The South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) https://sght.org/ is a registered charity, based in Dundee, Scotland, established in August 2005 by the late Brigadier David Nicholls RM and Professor Elaine Shemilt. Its primary mission is to protect and preserve the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, focusing heavily on conserving its native wildlife and safeguarding its rich cultural and human history. The Trust operates in close partnership with the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) and has Princess Anne as one of its prominent patrons.
Recently in a post, we have been pleased to observe the consistently high level of attention within the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions ,regarding Christianity and the sentiments that have driven various nations to strongly desire a place of worship in their respective territories.
Retracing the history of the whalers’ Church, which has played—and continues to play—such an important role in the area, deserves sincere praise. Five years ago, WAP (worldwide Antarctic Program) reported few lines of this oldest Antarctic church, the only building in Grytviken still serving its original purpose and stands as the only active church on the island of South Georgia-
See: https://www.waponline.it/christmas-in-whalers-church-grytviken-south-georgia-wap-gbr-29/
From the South Georgia Heritage Trust Facebook page:
The Norwegian Anglican Church in Grytviken, South Georgia, is a historic wooden building consecrated on Christmas Day in 1913. The founder of Grytviken Whaling Station (WAP GBR-29), Captain Carl Anton Larsen, placed an advert in the Norwegian newspapers for a resident pastor to shepherd his workers. So, in April 1912, newly ordained Pastor Kristen Løken arrived to take up the new role as priest and lecturer. The 27-year-old was from Lillehammer in Norway and gave his inaugural sermon on Maundy Thursday.
During a congregational meeting, a church building was agreed and was constructed thanks to funds donated by the employees and Captain Larsen. The church was consecrated on Christmas Day 1913 when Pastor Løken also baptised the daughter of the station manager.
Eventually, Pastor Løken was given permission by the other whaling companies to speak to workers at the stations around South Georgia. However, Løken wrote that “religious life does not wax strong amongst the whalers and left much to be desired.”
In 1914, Løken returned to Norway where he was a priest in various parishes until his retirement. In 1921 he married Signe Bertelsen. He died in 1975. He is remembered by the name Løken Pond, named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1991. It is located east of Burnet Cove at Maiviken, in the northern part of the Thatcher Peninsula on South Georgia.
Thanks and credit to: South Georgia Heritage Trust
(https://www.facebook.com/SouthGeorgiaHeritageTrust?locale=it_ITA)