Our Diocese is linked with the Swedish Lutheran Episcopalian Diocese of Lund. At present there is a comprehensive pattern of activity taking place such as visits, exchange of information, prayer and fellowship.

The Porvoo agreement brought the Lutheran Episcopal Churches and the Anglican communion into full communion together.

The purposes of the Link are:

Some information about the Diocese of Lund

Bishop : Bishop Christina Odenberg

Location – The Diocese embodies the two most southerly provinces of Sweden.

Diocese of Lünd – One of twelve dioceses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden, which was disestablished in December 1999. A diocese covering three regions and the island of Bornholm was established in Lünd in 1050. 

The first Christian Swedish king was baptised in 1,000A.D. From 1103, Lünd was the residence of the archbishop of the Nordic countries including Faro Islands, Iceland, Greenland and Rügen in Germany . The roman Catholic Church in Sweden has one diocese.

Worship – Alb, chasuble & stole are the usual vestments of the clergy. Cope and mitre are worn by the bishop. Liturgical colours used are the usual red, violet, green and white/gold, but blue is used also as an alternative to violet and black is sometimes used as a colour of sorrow or grief.

Area – 11027 sq. kilometres. – 130 km long x 220 km wide Population – 1,268,295 Deaneries – 21 Parishes - 165 Assemblies – 427 Ministers – 455

Cathedral City – Lünd

This is also a long established University city. The university was established in 1668 with donations from 225 cathedral chapter homesteads and 240 chapter homesteads. Until the 19th century the dominant style of housing in Lünd were low half-timbered dwellings, but in the latter part of that century larger building were built. In 1997 38,000 students attended the university in a city with a population of 98,000. Today Lünd is an important business centre.
The Cathedral ( Domkyrka) – In the late 11th century the cathedral , All Saints’ Monastery and nine wooden churches made up the Christian presence in Lünd. Of the 27 Middle Ages churches, only the cathedral and St. Peter’s remain. The buildings that housed the ancient cathedral chapter library and a few other such buildings remain. In the middle Ages the Cathedral had 70 altars at which mass was celebrated. In true Reformation style the black limestone pulpit dominates the north wall, it is suspended from one of the cathedral pillars and is ornately carved with canopy in contrasting white alabaster. .

Some Historical Facts
This area of Sweden is unique in that politically and geographically it once belonged tothe kingdom of Denmark. The area was once joined to mainland southern Europe by a   landbridge and so much of the flora & fauna of southern Sweden is the same as that to the south. Human activity was evident from soon after the Ice Age. Livestock farming has taken place since before 4,000B.C. There was a village culture from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. In 1658 Denmark surrendered their "Swedish" territories to Sweden. The arrival of the railway in 1856, ended Sweden’s isolation from the rest of Europe. Today airports, bus services, ferries and the new bridge with Denmark make it easy to travel far and wide.

Geography

There are open plains, brushwood and forests inland with a rugged west coastline and, to the south,long sandy beaches. The climate is, generally, mild. Malmo is now connected with Denmark by way of a bridge.

The Diocesan Link Prayers

God of the unexpected, open our eyes for the unknown in our different traditions. Thank you for the possibility to learnand share together. We pray for the Diocese of Cashel & Ossory and for the Diocese of Lund. Bless the Bishops, Christina and Peter, their colleagues in ministry and all God's people. Amen

God our Loving Father in Heaven, through the resurrection of your Son your Holy Spirit leads us on paths of peace and unity. Strengthen the links between our Dioceses, that as we travel on our pilgrimage of discovery, service and unity our togetherness in Christ may be a blessing to others for the sake of your Kingdom; This we pray through Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord. Amen

Church of Sweden Web site

Porvoo Communion