Johan Nicolai Støren
Encyclopedia
Johan Nicolai Støren was a Norwegian bishop
and theologian.
Støren was born in Trysil
, Hedmark
county, Norway
, the son of vicar
Abraham Wilhelm Støren and his wife Lagertha Johanne Diriksdatter. He had eleven siblings, including the brother Kristoffer Støren and a first cousin of engineer Ragnvald Støren. His first cousin Petter Johan Nicolay Støren was the father of high-ranking Nazi civil servant Finn Støren
, making Johan and Finn first cousins once removed.
He was sent to Kristiania Cathedral School at age 13, and took his examen artium
in 1889. He then graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy
in 1890 and from the Royal Frederick University
with the cand.theol.
degree in 1895. He studied in Germany
from 1898 to 1899. He started his pastor
al career in 1896 as curate
serving under his vicar father in Meldal
, not far from Støren
where his family originated. After the period in Germany, Støren was vicar in Brønnøy
and Skjerstad
between 1899 and 1901, seaman's priest in Leith
, Scotland
from 1901 to 1908 and then as a curate
in Biri
from 1908 to 1913. From 1913 he was the vicar of Tynset
, and in August 1915 he was promoted to dean
of Østerdalen
. There were tumultous times for the church, with conservatives protesting the growing influence of liberals. Støren was slightly on the conservative side, but was a compromise candidate for Bishop of the Diocese of Hålogaland in 1918. Støren was originally the fourth-most favored candidate among the local clergy, but the favored candidate Johan Beronka was a pacifist Kven and therefore out of the question for the Council of State (who appoints bishops in Norway
), number two rejected the offer and number three was seen as too liberal. He was appointed in July and ordained in September 1918. He remained here until being appointed as the more prestigious Bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros
in 1928.
Støren was due to retire from old age in July 1941, but in October 1940 the authorities prolonged his term by one year. This was during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, which started in April 1940. On 24 February 1942 all bishops stepped down in protest against the Nazi regime. Five bishops including Støren were fired in a meeting of 12 March 1942; Støren was the only one who was allowed by the Nazis to keep his title and honorifics.
After the end of the Nazi regime in May 1945, the new regime held that Nazi-instigated changes of office were illegal, but by Royal Resolution of 12 June 1945 Støren was declared as a retired since 12 March 1942. Støren lived at Smestad
in his later life, and died in November 1956. He outlived his wife Sophie Castberg (1875–1952), whom he had married in October 1899 in Kristiania
. His wife was a second cousin once removed of Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg
and third cousin of Torgrim
and Johan Castberg
.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and theologian.
Støren was born in Trysil
Trysil
Trysil is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Innbygda...
, Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, the son of vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
Abraham Wilhelm Støren and his wife Lagertha Johanne Diriksdatter. He had eleven siblings, including the brother Kristoffer Støren and a first cousin of engineer Ragnvald Støren. His first cousin Petter Johan Nicolay Støren was the father of high-ranking Nazi civil servant Finn Støren
Finn Støren
Finn Sofus Støren was a Norwegian businessperson and civil servant for Nasjonal Samling.He was born in Kristiansand as a son of customs officer Petter Johan Nicolay Støren and Elise Christopha Rude . He had a twin brother, was a nephew of Ernest Rude and his father was a cousin of Johan Nicolai...
, making Johan and Finn first cousins once removed.
He was sent to Kristiania Cathedral School at age 13, and took his examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1889. He then graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
in 1890 and from the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with the cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
degree in 1895. He studied in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
from 1898 to 1899. He started his pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
al career in 1896 as curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
serving under his vicar father in Meldal
Meldal
Meldal is a village and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Orkdalen region.The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Meldal. The village of Meldal has a population of 609. Other villages include Løkken Verk, Bjørnli, and Storås...
, not far from Støren
Støren
is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The municipality is located in the north-central part of the present-day municipality of Midtre Gauldal. The municipal center of Støren was the village of Støren, where Støren Church is located....
where his family originated. After the period in Germany, Støren was vicar in Brønnøy
Brønnøy
Brønnøy is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland region. The administrative and commercial centre is the town of Brønnøysund. A secondary centre is the village of Hommelstø. Other villages include Tosbotn, Lande, Trælnes, and Indreskomo.The Brønnøysund Register...
and Skjerstad
Skjerstad
Skjerstad is a former municipality in the county of Nordland, Norway.Skjerstad was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Fauske was separated from Skjerstad January 1, 1905...
between 1899 and 1901, seaman's priest in Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
from 1901 to 1908 and then as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Biri
Biri, Norway
Biri is a village in the municipality of GjøvikOppland county, Norway. It was formerly classified as a municipality.The parish of Biri was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . On 1 January 1910, the district Snertingdal was divided from Biri to form a municipality of its own,...
from 1908 to 1913. From 1913 he was the vicar of Tynset
Tynset
Tynset is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tynset.-Name:...
, and in August 1915 he was promoted to dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of Østerdalen
Østerdalen
Østerdalen is a valley and traditional district in Hedmark County, in Eastern Norway. It consisting of the municipalities Rendalen, Alvdal, Folldal,Tynset, Tolga and Os in the north, Elverum, Stor-Elvdal, Engerdal, Trysil and Åmot in the south.-Geography:...
. There were tumultous times for the church, with conservatives protesting the growing influence of liberals. Støren was slightly on the conservative side, but was a compromise candidate for Bishop of the Diocese of Hålogaland in 1918. Støren was originally the fourth-most favored candidate among the local clergy, but the favored candidate Johan Beronka was a pacifist Kven and therefore out of the question for the Council of State (who appoints bishops in Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
), number two rejected the offer and number three was seen as too liberal. He was appointed in July and ordained in September 1918. He remained here until being appointed as the more prestigious Bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros
Diocese of Nidaros
Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag counties and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. The diocese is divided into 12 deaneries . Finn Wagle was the bishop from 1991 to 2008...
in 1928.
Støren was due to retire from old age in July 1941, but in October 1940 the authorities prolonged his term by one year. This was during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, which started in April 1940. On 24 February 1942 all bishops stepped down in protest against the Nazi regime. Five bishops including Støren were fired in a meeting of 12 March 1942; Støren was the only one who was allowed by the Nazis to keep his title and honorifics.
After the end of the Nazi regime in May 1945, the new regime held that Nazi-instigated changes of office were illegal, but by Royal Resolution of 12 June 1945 Støren was declared as a retired since 12 March 1942. Støren lived at Smestad
Smestad, Oslo
Smestad is an area in the borough Vestre Aker in Oslo, Norway. It is named after Smestad mansion, which was parcelled out for residences after the tram line was built in 1912. It is served by Smestad station....
in his later life, and died in November 1956. He outlived his wife Sophie Castberg (1875–1952), whom he had married in October 1899 in Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. His wife was a second cousin once removed of Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg
Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg
Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg was a Norwegian politician. Spending his professional life as a customs surveyor, he was mayor of the cities Brevik and Skien, and served three terms in the Norwegian Parliament...
and third cousin of Torgrim
Torgrim Castberg
-Personal life:Torgrim Castberg was born in Skien as the son of customs surveyor and politician Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg and his wife Hanna Magdalene Frisak Ebbesen . He had several brothers and sisters, including the notable politician Johan.His paternal grandfather Peter Hersleb Harboe...
and Johan Castberg
Johan Castberg
Johan Castberg was a Norwegian jurist and politician best known for representing the Radical People's Party . He was a government minister from 1908 to 1910 and 1913 to 1914, and also served seven terms in the Norwegian Parliament...
.