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The Norwegian Seamen’s Church Faces Closure

A home to New Orleans jazz musicians and Scandinavian expats alike

The Norwegian Seamen's Church—the Lower Garden District church that was founded as a ministry for traveling Norwegian sailors, but today serves as a second home to Scandinavian expats and New Orleans jazz musicians—is being threatened with closure.

The church's headquarters in Bergen, Norway issued a closure notice to the New Orleans location after the number of people served has dwindled.

The church frequently hosts jazz concerts, and with its pool, courtyard, store selling Scandinavian goods, and "a dining room that always seems to be serving strong coffee and sweet cakes," is a home to expats.

No word on when the church could close, but the congregation is said to be rallying to keep it open.

New Orleans jazz community fears threatened closure of Norwegian Seamen’s Church [The Advocate]