The Whaler Church/Kirken I Grytvika

(Photo by Katie Flint)

The Whaler Church/Kirken I Grytvika

Grytvika, South Georgia

"Grytviken (Swedish for "the Pot Bay")^[1] is a settlement in the British territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. It was so named in 1902 by the Swedish surveyor Johan Gunnar Andersson who found old English try pots (Link 2.) used to render seal oil at the site. It is the best harbour on the island, consisting of a bay (King Edward Cove) within a bay (Cumberland East Bay). The site is quite sheltered, provides a substantial area of flat land suitable for building, and has a good supply of fresh water.

Sanctuary
(Photo by Katie Flint)

Altar
(photo by Katie Flint)


The Whaler's Church, Grytviken (cursor to the right)
(Wikipedia)

"Grytviken is a popular stop for cruise ships visiting Antarctica, and tourists usually land to visit Shackleton's grave. The South Georgia Museum is housed in the manager's house of the former whaling station, and is open during the summer tourist season.

"The station's church is the only building which retains its original purpose, and is still used occasionally for services. There have been several marriages in Grytviken, the first being registered on 24 February 1932, between A.G.N. Jones and Vera Riches, and the most recent on 19 February 2006, between Peter W. Damisch and Lesley J. Friedsam.^[5] On 28 January 2007, a service was conducted in remembrance of Anders Hansen (a Norwegian whaler buried at Grytviken Cemetery in 1943) and to celebrate his great-great-grandson Axel Wattø Eide's baptism occurring inOslo, Norway, the same day." (Link 1.)

                                                 The Whaler's Church, Grytviken 

(Post Card)

Photos: Taken in January 2015 by Katie Flint.

Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grytviken

Link 2:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Try_pot

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)