Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja ended their ten-day official visit to the US with a stop at the Norwegian Seamen's Church in New York on Saturday.
The King and Queen’s visit to the US is part of the commemorative activities celebrating the centennial anniversary of the American-Scandinavian Foundation, which culminated Saturday evening with the Centennial Ball at the Hilton Hotel.
Founded in 1878, the Norwegian Seaman’s Church in New York is a valued meeting-place both for Norwegian sailors and for Norwegians residing locally. In addition to providing religious ceremonies such as worship services, weddings, christenings and confirmations, the church is an important venue for social and cultural gatherings. Each week many Norwegians gather to enjoy the company of other Norwegians, eat Norwegian food and read Norwegian newspapers.
The church also organises concerts and lectures, and runs its own art gallery, the Trygve Lie Gallery. Pastor Per Erik Stave Engdal led Saturday's service, after which the King and Queen were given a guided tour of the gallery, which displays the works of Norwegian and Norwegian-American artists. Several of the featured artists were in attendance during the tour.
(NRK/Press release) (The Norwegian Seamen's Church)
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