Kristofer Janson
Encyclopedia
Kristofer Nagel Janson (May 4, 1841 - November 17, 1917) was a Norwegian poet, author and Unitarian
clergyman. Kristofer Janson is commonly recognized as the historical founder of the Norwegian Unitarian Church.
. He traveled extensively in Europe and upon his return to Norway became popular as a teacher and author. Janson married the former Drude Krog and became the father of seven children.
by Skandinaven
, which hailed its publication as a red-letter day for Norwegians in America. Both Rasmus B. Anderson
and H. H. Boyesen
were subsequently instrumental in arranging a lecture tour of the Norwegian immigrant community in the United States. Janson came to the United States during September, 1879 at the start of a successful six month lecture tour.
Janson subsequently relocated his family to the United States. His home soon became a cultural center. It was here as Janson's secretary, that the future Norwegian author Knut Hamsun
got his initial impressions of American cultural life. During this period Janson wrote several novels and short stories often attacking the orthodoxy of the Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
had encouraged Janson to go to the United States and become a Unitarian pastor for the Norwegian immigrant settlements. Janson was ordained in a ceremony which took place in 1881 in Third Unitarian Church in Chicago
. He was subsequently asked by the American Unitarian Association
to serve as minister among Scandinavia
n settlers in Minnesota
.
In 1893 Janson returned to Norway and introduced Unitarianism
to Norway mainly in Oslo
. Kristofer Janson is recognized as the historical founder of the Norwegian Unitarian Church (Norwegian: Unitarforbundet Bét Dávid) which was established in 1895.
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
clergyman. Kristofer Janson is commonly recognized as the historical founder of the Norwegian Unitarian Church.
Background
Kristofer Janson was born in Bergen, Norway. His father, a prominent merchant, was also the American consul. Janson graduated with a degree in theology from the University of Christiania during 1865. Although he had been trained in theology, he was not ordained into the Church of NorwayChurch 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...
. He traveled extensively in Europe and upon his return to Norway became popular as a teacher and author. Janson married the former Drude Krog and became the father of seven children.
Career
In 1876, Kristofer Janson's three-act drama, Amerikanske fantasier, was issued in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
by Skandinaven
Skandinaven
Skandinaven was a Norwegian language newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois from 1866 until 1941.-Background:Skandinaven was established by three Norwegian immigrants; John Anderson, Knud Langeland and Iver Lawson. John Anderson administered the business side of the newspaper. Iver Lawson...
, which hailed its publication as a red-letter day for Norwegians in America. Both Rasmus B. Anderson
Rasmus B. Anderson
Rasmus Bjørn Anderson was an American author, professor, and diplomat. He brought to popular attention the idea that Viking explorers discovered the New World and was the originator of Leif Erikson Day.-Biography:...
and H. H. Boyesen
Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen
Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen was a Norwegian-American author and college professor.-Biography:He was born at the Norwegian naval base Fredriksvern, near the village of Stavern in Vestfold County, Norway. Boyesen grew up in Fredriksvern, then in Kongsberg, and, from 1854, at Systrand in Sogn...
were subsequently instrumental in arranging a lecture tour of the Norwegian immigrant community in the United States. Janson came to the United States during September, 1879 at the start of a successful six month lecture tour.
Janson subsequently relocated his family to the United States. His home soon became a cultural center. It was here as Janson's secretary, that the future Norwegian author Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun was a Norwegian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He was praised by King Haakon VII of Norway as Norway's soul....
got his initial impressions of American cultural life. During this period Janson wrote several novels and short stories often attacking the orthodoxy of the Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
had encouraged Janson to go to the United States and become a Unitarian pastor for the Norwegian immigrant settlements. Janson was ordained in a ceremony which took place in 1881 in Third Unitarian Church in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He was subsequently asked by the American Unitarian Association
American Unitarian Association
The American Unitarian Association was a religious denomination in the United States and Canada, formed by associated Unitarian congregations in 1825. In 1961, it merged with the Universalist Church of America to form the Unitarian Universalist Association.According to Mortimer Rowe, the Secretary...
to serve as minister among Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n settlers in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
In 1893 Janson returned to Norway and introduced Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
to Norway mainly in Oslo
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...
. Kristofer Janson is recognized as the historical founder of the Norwegian Unitarian Church (Norwegian: Unitarforbundet Bét Dávid) which was established in 1895.
Selected works
- Salmer og sange for kirke og hjem (1883)
- Fra begge Sider Havet: fortællinger (1890)
- Lys og frihed: predikener til alle kirkeaarets Sön og helligdage (1892)
- Foredrag (1894)
- Bonde fortaellinger (1908)
Additional sources
- Sveino, Per Kristofer Janson and his American Experience (Oslo. 1971)
- Draxen, Nina Kristofer Janson in America ( Norwegian-American Historical Association. Authors Series. 1976)