After 112 years of worship and music, the Scandinavian Jazz Church has announced it will be bidding New Orleans farewell at the end of this year. The Prytania Street church and community center fell ill to financial woes after losing its funding from the Norwegian government two years ago.

“It must be said that the decision to close our doors after so many years has been a difficult, highly emotional and painful one,” said Board Chair Jan Mikalsen.  “However, as the years have passed, it has become obvious that despite our best intentions, planning and flexibility, the generosity of many people, and the prayers and volunteer engagement of so many others, that our work and operations have become unsustainable.  While we are deeply saddened by the decision we had no choice but to make, we now turn our attention over the remaining three months of operations, to celebrating the lives we have touched, the unique and vibrant culture we have helped advance so far from our northern Europe homelands, and the difference we have made for the thousands of people who have come through our doors over these past 112 years.”

First founded as the Seamen’s Mission in 1906, the church was known for its monthly jazz services featuring local musicians and cross-cultural worship drawing on its Scandinavian heritage. Propped up by the Norwegian government, it started out as a missionary-style center to serve as a community home for Norwegian seaman far from home. It grew to become a small and thriving congregation for New Orleanians of Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, or Icelandic descent. The Seamen’s Mission later became the Norwegian Seamen’s Church. Last year, the religious center rebranded itself as a “jazz church” last year in order to diversify its image and turn the focus towards its musical offerings. The church began offering weekly jazz services and additional music programming to expand itself as a community center in addition to a Christian center. Since 2009, its popular annual Scandinavian Festival has offered locals a taste of Scandinavian food, music, and culture.

The church plans to continue with this year’s Fest, set for November 2-3 at the center’s Lower Garden District location. Jazz services will continue as planned on the first, second, and third Sundays of the remaining months, with a piano service on the fourth Sundays. The Scandinavian Jazz Church and Cultural Center is under contract to be sold in December and will cease its operations before the new year.