They called the church a night-club – now it is 40 years old
– In the end drunk teenagers were found in shopping trolleys outside Favör grocery store. That was the last straw.
Bo Johansson was the first vicar at Ljungdala church. The church was opened in 1980. Previously the church had had premises in a nearby cellar.
”It was propably the most popular place in town”Bo Johansson, vicar
The parent-teacher association ”Hem och Skola” wanted to have something for young people to do. So Ljungdala church opened a music café.
– There was dancing and a DJ. On a Saturday evening we could have 300 young people. Parents acted as ”watchmen”. It was propably the most popular place in town, says Bo Johansson.
”The ones who came here also remember that we cared”Bo Johansson, vicar
Drugs and alcohol were banned at the music café. But they managed to smuggle in ”mellanöl” (lower alcohol content than standard beer) through the windows. And so the music café was closed down.
– Yes, there were a few who came here and were rather unruly. But the ones who came here also remember that we cared, that we welcomed them, says Bo Johansson.
Klas Sturesson, the present vicar at Ljungdala, remembers a church that was full of life.
”Sometimes women in a hijab come in and light a candle”Therese Knutsson, vicar
There could be five christenings during a service.There were study groups, activity groups, a children's choir, and five groups in the open nursery school.
There was a disco for classes 1-3 as well.
– Our co-operation with the school was excellent.
But you can't have that any longer, I suppose?
– Why shouldn't we? We have a good dialogue with all cultures. Sometimes women in a hijab come in and light a candle, says Therese Knutsson.
”Now I love it. There's no limit to what you can do here”Therese Knutsson, vicar
Majken Wahlström, vicar at Ljungdala between 2005 and 2013, tells us about an end-of-term service in the church. The girl who was Maria in the nativity play was a Moslem.
Now Ljungdala church is called ”the Children's Cathedral”, to mark the special place children and young people have in the church, that barriers are low, both literally and metaphorically speaking.
Is the church building attractive?
– The first time I came here I thought, ”I'm never going to feel at home here, the church is too modern”. Now I love it. There's no limit to what you can do here, says Therese Knutsson.
Five years ago there were plans to close the church.
– But today there are no such plans, says Klas Sturesson.
