Great Britain came very near to owning the Faroe Islands. King Henry VIII was twice offered the 18 small, mountainous islands located between Scotland and Iceland, as security for a loan, but both times he turned them down. By default, the Faroes archipelago became part of Denmark’s crown jewels.
As far back as the 6th century, Irish monks were drawn to the isolation of the North Sea islands. Vikings were the first to settle permanently, however, and in 1035 the land became part of Norway, which was united with Denmark for almost 500 years. When the two countries separated in 1814, the Faroes became Danish.
State church
Today, although Denmark still claims ownership, the nearly 50,000 Faroese are now self-governing. A parliament in the small capital of Torshavn exercises control of internal affairs, while the Danish government continues funding for such things as education, health and social services. It also provides the housing and salaries of clergy belonging to the state Lutheran church.
Christianity has been entrenched in these far islands for 1,000 years and, like the tradition of seafaring, continues to take a prominent role. Everyone is born into the state religion by virtue of being Danish citizens, and nearly every village boasts a Lutheran church.
The Home Mission is the more evangelical branch of the state church, attended by about 20 per cent of Lutherans. Its three focuses are evangelising people on the islands, a seamen’s mission which visits foreign and Faroese vessels, and foreign mission.
For tax purposes, Faroese who wish to convert to another faith or denomination must sign themselves off the state church books. About 20 per cent have done so.
Only one Roman Catholic church exists, and there are a sprinkling of Salvation Army, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Bahai followers. Pentecostals now attract about 5 per cent of the population, and a strong 15 per cent are Christian (or Plymouth) Brethren.
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