Christianism was introduced in Denmark in the course of the 9th century and
a regular hierarchy was set up soon afterwards.
Roman Catholicism was forbidden after the introduction of Lutheranism in 1536
and for nearly three centuries most "legal" Catholics were foreigners who
were under the care of the chaplain of the French embassy.
In the course of the 19th century renewed misionary activities met with some
results and by 1869 the community was large enough to justify the founding of
the separate Apostolic Prefecture of Denmark, which, in 1892 became an
Apostolic Vicariate. (1)
(1) Till 1869 Denmark had formally been part of the Apostolic Vicariate
of the Northern Missions, established in 1667.
Prefects Apostolic
1869 - 1883 Hermann Grüder
1884 - 1892 Johannes von Euch
Vicars Apostolic
1892 - 1922 Johannes von Euch, Titular Bishop of
Anastasiopolis in Rhodope s.a.
1922 - 1939 Josef Brems, Titular Bishop of Roskilde(1923)
1939 - 1953 Johannes Theodor Suhr, Titular Bishop of
Balecio in Dalmatia Superior, continued as
Bishop of Copenhagen until 1965 1896 -
Note
The Danish hierarchy also included :
- The Færøer
Roman Catholicism had been introduced in the Færøer ca 1000, but after
the introduction of the Reform (ca 1540) it was forbidden.
A new community was set up in 1857, but it had no proper organization
after 1870, being visited once a year by a Danish priest until 1894
when its last member died.
In 1931 mission work started once again, but, like in the previous
period, without much results.
- Greenland
Roman Catholicism was introduced in Greenland in the 12th century and
a regular hierarchy - the diocese of Gardar - was set up ca 1124.
The diocese as well as the community disappeared in the course of the
15th century, its last titular bishop dying in 1530.
In 1869 Greenland became subject to the Danish hierarchy in Copenhagen,
but no new Catholic community emerged before 1945.
- Iceland from 1869 to 1923.
Back to ROMAN CATHOLIC REGIONAL HIERARCHY
