The Church of Norway has experienced an unexpected increase in membership over the past two years, after a long period of declining support.

According to Sven Thore Kloster, head of research at Kifo, the Institute for Church, Religion and Life Stance Research, 2023 was a record year, with more than 4,000 new members, and the figure remained just as high in 2024, writes Klassekampen.

This increase comes in addition to the fact that the number of baptisms has stabilised after a long period of decline, and young adults between the ages of 20 and 40 in particular are joining. Many of the new members have either returned to the church after leaving, or have previously been members of other denominations.

Kifo will now be researching the reasons for this new trend, but Head of Research Kloster rejects the myth that a conservative right-wing wave is driving young men to a stricter Christianity. He believes that the increase may instead be due to a more progressive national church.

In recent years, the Church of Norway has taken several steps in a more inclusive direction, including adopting a marriage liturgy for same-sex couples in 2016. The Church has also engaged in ecumenical cooperation and dialogue with other religions and beliefs.

The Church of Norway is a member of the Cooperation Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities (STL), an umbrella organisation that promotes dialogue between different faiths in Norway. STL has representatives from Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Humanism, among others.

Parents of young children who participate in baby singing at Hasle Church in Oslo describe an open and inclusive community that emphasises fellowship and connection regardless of family type or background. Deacon Renate Egeberg-Jensen emphasises that the church cares about the families, not how they came to be.

While attendance at traditional church services has not reached pre-pandemic levels, the Church of Norway is experiencing increased participation in low-threshold activities such as baby singing, neighbourhood dinners and concerts, which can help open the door to new members.