Hartlepool's Swedish Church was supposedly the oldest of its kind in Britain. On this image, Inga-Britta Blomqvist is leading the traditional procession of St Lucia with seven attendants.
The congregation is made up of Hartlepool's Scandanavian community and their British friends and crews from Scandinavian ships in port. Following the candlelit procession, Swedish Lucia cakes are eaten by candlelight.
A Hartlepool Mail report at the time said that it could be the last such service in Hartlepool as the congregation may next year be moved to Middlesbrough.
Date (of image) : 13/12/1954
Donor : Hartlepool Museum Service
Creator : NDM
Location
The Swedish or Scandanavian church was on the corner of Middleton Road and Clarence Road and opened in 1885. It was the oldest Swedish Mission church in the world. In 1955 it was demolished, the congregation moved to Middlesbrough and although another Swedish Church was planned for the town, it was never built.
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