Hope Cathedral

Late autumn 2021

Now we’re working on the final wall!

For a few days we had the assistance of skilled traditional craftsmen from Dovre, and now our new construction manager Tonje is working with our wonderful team of volunteers to finish the final wall of the Hope Cathedral. Here you can see film clip of the moment when we turned the cathedral around. It will not be possible to enter the cathedral for a while now, but in the spring it will emerge again in all its splendour. We look forward to showing you!

New brooms at the cathedral

These are exciting times for us now. We have a new construction manager, a new project manager and have also supplemented with our own cathedral caretaker!

Tonje Havstad takes over from Andreas Pagander as construction manager. Tonje helped build the barge on which the Hope Cathedral is built, and which was launched in June 2019. Now she’s back in Fredrikstad and will be with us going forward.

Tonje has been building and restoring boats ever since she was a child in Nesodden. Her career has gone from the family business to studying political science and working as a consultant in oil and finance before training as a boat builder, and at the same time landing a job at Fredrikstad Maritime Centre on Isegran. Meanwhile she became involved in the performing arts project 71Bodies, working with dance, while also making a big life choice by changing gender. Tonje is probably the first person ever to take wooden boat building to the national dance scene!

In recent years, she has worked as an environmental therapist in the Prison and Probation Service. She has built traditional building in Viking style and restored museum buildings in Old Bergen. And now she is here with us!

Tone Langvik takes over where our dear Anne left off. She starts in a part-time position in October and will be moving to a full-time position from January 2022. Tone also runs the design agency Provinsen part-time until Christmas. She is a craniosacral therapist and has a big heart for Mother Earth and all things living. Through the Provinsen she has been involved in the Hope Cathedral right from the start and knows the project well.

“It is so wonderful to see what Solveig & Co have achieved – to think that the cathedral has become a reality! I’m looking forward to carrying on the good work and getting to know all the great people that are involved in making the Hope Cathedral such a unique project. ”

Fredrik Nordby is originally a social worker with many years experience in leadership from humanitarian non-profit organizations and volunteer work. He is a keen sailor and has spent a lot of time at sea, also as a skipper on lifeboats. Fredrik came to the Hope Cathedral in connection with rehabilitation after illness, and continued as a volunteer before he is steps into a in a part-time position as project
co-worker and caretaker.

Thanks!

“I look back on three wonderful years in the Hope Cathedral, and I feel both grateful and sad now that I have handed over the keys to the office. However, I am so confident that the project is in the safest hands now that Solveig and Camilla are joined by Tonje, Tone and Fredrik on the further journey. My role in the Hope Cathedral has largely been about building a sustainable organization and ensuring a broad and reliable involvement in the construction phase. And what a crew they’ve been! The team of volunteers, the resource group, the ambassadors and not to mention Andreas, Solveig and Camilla. Thank you so much for three wonderful years, and good luck with the completion and testing of exciting new content. My journey continues to the next project, Active City Fredrikstad, which is about getting more people more active more often. The employer will be Fredrikstad municipality and the Active Life agency. You’ll find me on the same phone as before, 95912552 and my email is aska@fredrikstad.kommune.no ”

All the best 

Anne 

Thank you all

“As many of you know, my contract with the Hope Cathedral expired this summer. I want to thank you for the wonderful time I have had with this project. When Solveig told me about it I immediately ignited the idea. And when I was asked to be the construction manager, I couldn’t help but say yes. It has been three wonderful and challenging years. What I was not prepared for when I started the project was the enormous volunteer effort that has been put into the project. It has been incredible to see everyone who has contributed to all aspects of the project, from construction to cake baking and fundraising. Many children and young people are also involved in the project, which has been great fun. A big thank you to you all and continue enjoying your work.

I have passed the baton as construction manager on to Tonje, and I look forward to seeing what she achieves with the completion of the Cathedral. I'll stop by and follow its progress. Now I have moved on to new projects building fishing boats and pinnaces. This too involves a lot of volunteer work from children and young people. I think that’s so important. Good luck!”

All the best

Andreas

We are all Pinocchio

On 5th September 5, the exhibition "We are all Pinocchio" opened. Many made the trip to Isegran and the Hope Cathedral to see it. Below you can also see one of the great pictures from the exhibition. Some are still for sale - contact Solveig if you are interested. 

Hope in an apple!

The volunteer gang in the Cathedral of Hope has been harvesting apples from gardens in the town.

Not only does this give us delicious and local apple juice, but we also reduce food waste and contribute to pleasant outdoor activity. The apple juice can be bought on the construction site at Isegran throughout the autumn and at the annual Christmas market at the Cathedral of Hope. This has been a great and rewarding job for the volunteer team and the “Mestringsglede group” from “Friskliv og Mestring” in Fredrikstad municipality.

Think how meaningful it is to gather apples that would otherwise rot and then make delicious drinks from them!

Would you like to buy apple juice as a gift for employees?
Contact the Cathedral of Hope tel. 415 12 518

Christmas gifts for companies

Hope Cathedral sells environmentally friendly and meaningful Christmas gifts that you can give to your employees! Bee cathedrals, carving boards, honey, apple juice, carrier bags. We pack, deliver and can send invoices.

Get in touch for a good offer on 415 12 518

Christmas market, 5th December

Set aside Sunday 5th December – that’s when Fredrikstad’s nicest Christmas market will be held at the Hope Cathedral! We have an open fire and warm furs, and you can buy both bee cathedrals, fine carving boards, hope honey and delicious apple juice from the gardens of Fredrikstad, picked by our fantastic volunteers. This is where you’ll find the Christmas gifts that contribute hope and joy!

Christmas shopping with the world's best conscience.