Ohs Kyrka, Ohs, Sweden. Photo credit: Jonathan Petersson
Swedish Churches forced to close due to heating costs
For the first time, looming power cuts, energy rationing and skyrocketing gas prices in the coming winter in Sweden will affect worship.
Published: October 8, 2022, 8:00 am
The Church of Sweden is closing down its houses of worship this winter because they are unable to pay heating bills. It is not certain how many churches will be closed and there have been no orders from the dioceses. However, it is certain that many will resort to closure to save on energy.
Skara Pastorate has decided to completely close 11 of its 16 churches over the winter due to unaffordable electricity.
“Now we are closing completely and we have never done that before. We will close from All Saints until April completely, and not open them until the spring heat comes, hopefully in early April,” Robert Lorentzon, the provost, told national broadcaster SVT.
In the five churches in Skara that will stay open, the heat will be lowered by two degrees. No baptisms or funerals will be held in the other churches this winter.
The Diocese of Gothenburg estimated that at least 40 churches will be closed this winter and in Skåne and Blekinge counties in southern Sweden, up to half of a total of 540 churches belonging to Lund diocese may close. If electricity bills rise to over SEK 200 000 ($18,000) per “medium-sized church”, diocese engineer Andreas Månsson said they had no choice.
In Västra Götaland, the Mellerud pastorate will close four of its eleven churches to conserve energy.
According to the Swedish Civil Contingencies agency (MSB), power rationing could affect traffic lights, trams, heating and communications as well as electronic locks to properties, among other things.
The temperature in swimming pools and gyms, saunas, ice rinks, and other “energy-intensive leisure centers” is going to be lowered.
The decision by Brussels to ban Russian energy has resulted in a wave of inflation, with record-high prices and exorbitant electricity bills contributing to a cost-of-living crisis. Food prices have risen for nine consecutive months in Sweden alone.
All rights reserved. You have permission to quote freely from the articles provided that the source (www.freewestmedia.com) is given. Photos may not be used without our consent.
Consider donating to support our work
Help us to produce more articles like this. FreeWestMedia is depending on donations from our readers to keep going. With your help, we expose the mainstream fake news agenda.
Keep your language polite. Readers from many different countries visit and contribute to Free West Media and we must therefore obey the rules in, for example, Germany. Illegal content will be deleted.
If you have been approved to post comments without preview from FWM, you are responsible for violations of any law. This means that FWM may be forced to cooperate with authorities in a possible crime investigation.
If your comments are subject to preview by FWM, please be patient. We continually review comments but depending on the time of day it can take up to several hours before your comment is reviewed.
We reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, contain slander or foul language, or are irrelevant to the discussion.
Twelve-year-old Becomes Youngest Professional Killer in Sweden
Sweden stands out internationally with an increasing number of murders and attempted murders carried out by young children who are used as child soldiers by criminal immigrant gangs.
Sweden-hating Islamist Living Large on Tax Money: ‘You can’t stop me’
Despite debts of over two million kronor, Islamist Tara Saleh lives a “life of luxury” at the taxpayers’ expense. This was revealed by journalist Christian Peterson in several articles about the well-known Sweden-hater.
Trump Heralds In New Era: No jus soli
With the stroke of a pen, US President Donald Trump has now made a fundamental decision regarding US citizenship
Digital IDs Coming Despite Previous Disasters
Digital IDs are on the rise. During the pandemic, health was the pretext used by those in power to introduce privacy-violating technology that could quickly exclude people from social functions.
Danish State TV: Ethnic Danish Children Are Undesirable
Eugenic advice from Denmark's TV: "One should probably choose something more exotic" to avoid inbreeding
UK Church Schism Looms with Female Archbishop
The Anglican Church in England has decided to elevate the Bishop of London, a woman, to the rank of archbishop.
Von der Leyen Plans Her Own EU Intelligence Service
Behind the scenes at the European Commission, a power struggle is apparently raging between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas
Survey: National Sovereignty is Important to Most Europeans
The notion of an unelected Brussels-led 'empire' is not popular
Britain’s Two-Party System on the Verge of Collapse
Britain is facing a political earthquake – and the winner could be Nigel Farage
No comments.
By submitting a comment you grant Free West Media a perpetual license to reproduce your words and name/web site in attribution. Inappropriate and irrelevant comments will be removed at an admin’s discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only, it will never be shared.