Joansson, Tordur (2012) Brethren in the Faeroes: An Evangelical movement, its remarkable growth and lasting impact in a remote island community. PhD thesis. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3647/ Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Glasgow Theses Service http://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] Tórður Jóansson Brethren in the Faeroes An Evangelical movement, its remarkable growth and lasting impact in a remote island community A thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Glasgow by Tórður Jóansson, MA (University of Glasgow), Exam.Art. (Faeroe Academy), PhD (University of Aberdeen), BD (University of Glasgow) Submitted in January 2012 Supervisor: Rev Dr Doug Gay Examiners: Professor Dr David Bebbington Dr Heather Walton, Senior Lecturer Department of Theology and Religious Studies UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW ©Tordur Joansson 2012 1 UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW Faculty of Arts Department of Theology and Religious Studies Brethren in the Faeroes An Evangelical movement, its remarkable growth and lasting impact in a remote island community Tórður Jóansson Matr. No. 7802581 Supervisor: Rev Dr Doug Gay Januar 2012 2 Dedicated to those who dared break away 3 Foreword and acknowledgements This work has made me realise that the subject is far more interesting and challenging than anticipated. The Brethren in the Faeroe Islands have demonstrated that a globally insignificant evangelical movement can take root in a small, isolated community with considerable success. This book covers most aspects of a society which the Open Brethren penetrated and, in turn, influenced through the most significant stage in the islands’ history: the revolutionary changes that new socio-economic conditions, secularisation and modernisation brought about. The starting point of the research was a feeling of embarrassment of knowing very little about the Brethren, a feeling almost certainly shared by many Faeroe Islanders and others. Prejudice and bigotry is usually based on ignorance; and for decades I have encountered such negative attitudes towards the Faeroese Brethren, and I wanted to present a more scholarly presentation and discussion about the movement. Hopefully this book may help non-Brethren as well as Brethren themselves understand the socio- economic, cultural, historical and theological backgrounds of the movement. Having completed my BD-degree at the University of Glasgow in 2004, I had considered applying for a grant from the Faeroese Research Council for some time; in the autumn of 2006 an application was sent, and at Christmas the same year I learned that they wanted this work done. After some administrative hurdles the work commenced in April 2007 and the same summer I made my first field trip to Iceland and the Faeroes. After that I participated at the BAHN-conference in Liverpool which was very stimulating; there I also established contact with the archivist of the Christian Brethren Archive at the John Ryland University Library of Manchester, Dr Graham Johnson, and 4 the convenor of the Brethren Archivists and Historians Network, Dr Neil Dickson, author of the splendid and scholarly book Brethren in Scotland 1838-2000. Later I have shamelessly exploited his kindness in that he has read and criticised chapter after chapter, made comments and suggestions. Of course my supervisor, Rev Dr Douglas Gay, was able to put me on the right track and, especially in the beginning, deemed much of the material irrelevant and rightly so. Many other people have done me the extraordinary favours of reading single or all chapters and given feedback. Dr. Rodmundur í Liða and Zacharias Zachariassen, evangelist, poet and writer, have read all the chapters – at least once. The Lecturer Árni Dahl and the author Marianna Dahl read chapters on culture and came up with relevant references. At the Viva, chaired by Dr David Jasper, my examiners Dr David Bebbington and Dr Heather Walton gave me crucial advice how to improve a final version of this work. I also want to thank my old friend and colleague Hans A. M. Joensen for constant encouragement during the work on this thesis. The Christian Brethren Archive was visited several times as was the National Library and the National Archive in Tórshavn, the University and Royal Libraries in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as the Danish Home Mission’s Archive in Fredericia. But most materials were available at the Glasgow University Library. I thank the staff at all these institutions warmly for friendly help and advice. Many private Brethren members have enthusiastically provided much material for which I am very grateful. Without this the result would have been considerably poorer. However, all misunderstandings, possible errors and other – maybe unavoidable – flaws are wholly my responsibility. Gorbals, Glasgow 28th August 2012, Tórður Jóansson 5 Contents Photo of the Brethren hall at Kirkja, Fugloy 2 Foreword and acknowledgements 3 Contents 5 Map of the Faeroe Islands and neighbouring countries 5 Map of the Faeroe Islands, indicating assemblies 6-7 Introduction 11 Aims 14 Scope and structure 15 Origins and funding 20 Theoretical base 22 The language question 26 The national question 27 Methodology 36 PART ONE – Setting the Scene 38 1. The Faeroe Islands 39 1.1 Geographical and economic facts 39 1.2 History up to 1800 41 1.2.1 Early history 41 1.2.2 The Post-reformation period 46 1.3 Major changes 48 1.3.1 Opening to the world 51 1.3.2 Political changes 53 1.3.3 Socio-economic changes 55 1.4 Language and culture 56 1.4.1 Language 57 1.4.2 Culture 60 1.5 Ecclesiastical 61 1.5.1 Major historical changes 62 1.5.2 Churches and missions 66 1.6 Socio-political environment 71 1.7 Literature on the early period 76 2. The Brethren Movement 78 2.1 Theological context 78 2.2 Political and cultural environment 80 2.3 Brethren emerge 82 2.4 Characteristics 92 2.5 Two branches 98 2.6 Dispensationalism 102 2.7 Brethren Spirituality 104 6 2.8 Mid-Victorian British revivalism 106 2.8 Literature on Brethren 109 PART TWO – Narrating the introduction and establishment 111 3. Brethren in the Faeroes 1865-1965 112 3.1 Beginnings 1865-1879 112 3.2 Consolidation 1879-1914 120 4. Activism and expansion 1919-1965 138 4.1 Growth 138 4.2.1 Innovations 142 4.2.2 Brethren publications 147 4.2.3 Inter-assembly work 151 4.2.4 Zarepta 152 4.2.5 Missionary work abroad 154 th 4.2.6 Other 20 century initiators and initiatives 156 4.2.8 Broadcasting 157 4.3 Missiological reflections 159 5. Key Figures – biographical portraits 166 5.1 British missionaries 166 5.2 First Faeroese missionaries 170 5.3 New initiatives 175 5.4 Momentous translation work 182 PART THREE - Evaluating the legacy 189 6. Socio-economic progress 190 6.1 Social and economic factors 190 6.1.1 Theoretical base 191 6.1.2 Modernisation and secularisation 194 6.1.3 The situation in the Faeroes 197 6.2 New society emerges 201 6.2.1 Progress 201 6.2.2 Economics and politics 1948-2011 202 6.3 Fears and dangers 203 6.3.1 Deadly diseases 203 6.3.2 Losses at sea 205 6.3.3 Socio-psychological challenges 207 6.3.4 New economic initiatives 207 6.4 Brethren in society 208 6.4.1 Position of Brethren 208 6.4.2 Separation from the world 212 6.4.3 Brethren trade unionists and politicians 214 6.4.4 Brethren involvement in economic affairs 218 7 6.4.5 Alcohol problems 220 6.4.6 Comments 222 7. Modern Faeroese culture emerges 223 7.1 Language and literature since 1900 225 7.1.1 The Faeroe Folk High School 228 7.1.2 Linguistic and cultural changes 231 7.2 Politics and culture 235 7.2.1 Politics 235 7.2.2 Literature 238 7.2.3 Fine art 248 7.2.4 Music 252 7.2.5 Institutions 258 7.3 Comments 259 8. Ethnographic fieldwork 264 8.1 Rationale 264 8.2 Methodology 265 8.2.1 Aims and scope 267 8.2.2 Role of researcher 268 8.3 Interviews 270 8.3.1 Beginnings seen in retrospect 270 8.3.2 Biblicism 276 8.3.3 Conversionism 277 8.3.4 Crucicentrism 282 8.3.5 Missionary work 283 8.3.6 Activism 286 8.3.7 Assembly members 289 6.3.8 Meetings at sea 294 6.3.9 Changes and developments 296 8.3.10 Tensions 299 8.3.11 Financial 302 8.3.12 Social and cultural attitudes 304 8.4. Comments 307 Conclusion 314 Bibliography 321 Foto and drawings are all by Eli Smith. Maps produced from my list by Kári við Rættará. 8 Faeroe Islands and neighbouring countries 9 Brethren Halls in the Faeroes The map on the following page shows the geographical distribution of halls in the islands. Each hall has a number (1-32) in chronological order. 1 Tórshavn, Streymoy. ‘Sloan’s Hall’ 1879. Ebenezer 1905, prolonged in 1932. Present one built in 1963. 2 Kollafjørður, Streymoy. Private home 1895. The hall, Zion, 1937. 3 Porkeri, Suðuroy.