A New Ecclesial Landscape
Changes in Numbers of Churches and International Pentecostalism in Stockholm, 1980–2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/pent.26644Keywords:
desecularization, city, Stockholm, Pentecostalism, local international churches, adherentsAbstract
In recent decades, Swedish society has become religiously diverse. However, it is not known whether this diversity has led to an increase in religion. Research into religious changes in cities shows how religion is still important in shaping them, and the aim of this article is, with a focus on number of local churches, is to explore processes of change in the ecclesial landscape in Stockholm Region. We also conducted an in-depth analysis of how international Pentecostalism is part of these processes. Processes of change in the ecclesial landscape could be seen in Stockholm Region during the 1980–2020 period, with a geographical shift in the number of local churches from northern to southern Stockholm. This shift clearly relates to a decline in the number of older local churches, for example, of the Church of Sweden and Classical Free Churches, and the growth of number of local churches closely related to contemporary immigration, that is Pentecostal, Catholic and Orthodox churches, in which international Pentecostal churches have an important role.
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