[#1767] The Fri Apostliske church

[Gjest Douglas Chaffey]

In using the 1865 census information on this site, I have come across possible ancestors from Tromso who belonged to the 'Fri Apostliske' church. Can anyone tell me about this denomination, what its history was, and whether this denomination can still be found in Tromso or other places in Norway? If it still exists, I may be able to find some birth or baptism records. Thank you - Douglas Chaffey

[Gjest Anders Alvheim]

I'm completely ignorant when it comes to religious matters ;-), but here's a few links that might help you. It's about 150 yrs since we had the socalled 'dissenter-laws' passed, where people were allowed to remain outside of the official state church (somebody correct me if im wrong!), so it marked your possible ancestors as such. I don't think it was regarded as that big an issue, actually... [url="http://www.pctii.org/cyberj/lie.html>http://www.pctii.org/cyberj/lie.html http://home.c2i.net/geir_lie/Kenyon_eng.htm Lenke http://home.c2i.net/geir_lie/Apostolisk_Tro.htm Lenke

[Gjest Leif Erik Nilsen]

The dissenter law was passed in 1845. I would think that this Free Apostolic Church in Tromsø was an independent church that was founded around 1857 or 58 as one of the oldest independent churches in Norway. There were some connection between this church an a former minister in the Church of Norway, Gustav A. Lammers, who had left the state church and founded a free apostolic church in Skien. A lot of different churches were started in Norway as a part of this movement. Some of these were later dissolved, some became Baptist churches, and most became a part of "Det Norske Misjonsforbund" (Mission Covenant Church - www.misjonsforbundet.no) that was founded in 1884. I don't know what happened with the church in Tromsø, but it was probably a predecessor to what is now "Tromsø Misjonsmenighet" - www.frimisjonen.no (home page in Norwegian).

[Gjest Douglas Chaffey]

Thank you so much for responding to my inquiry. I have e-mailed the Mission Covenant Church in Tromso (I must find out how to add that slash mark to the town name), and hope to hear from them in regards to their possible relationship to the Free Apostolic Church. Doug Chaffey

[Gjest Tom Askerøi]

Hi Douglas You may do it more complicated than it is. I had the same problem with my grandfather, he was a member of one dissenter church and nowhere to be found in the regular church books. But when the church vanished some 50 years ago all their church books were handed over to Riksarkivet. As the law tells them to. (Mine was even filmed). It could be worth a try - unless you've allready done so...