Michael Johan Færden
Who was Michael Johan Færden?
Norwegian priest (1836–1912)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Michael Johan Færden (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Michael Johan Færden (24 December 1836 – 17 June 1912) was a Norwegian Lutheran priest and author, born in Norderhov, Buskerud. His parents were farmer and bank treasurer Thor A. Færden (1804–1879) and Ellen M. Vager (1811–1886). His family had significant ties in Norwegian public life, being related to Anders Færden, Wilhelm Hansen Færden, and politician Olaus Færden. After finishing secondary school in 1855, Færden attended the Royal Frederick University in Christiania, earning his cand.theol. degree in 1861 to qualify for the Lutheran ministry.
Before starting a formal clerical role, Færden taught at Hartvig Nissens skole from 1858, linking him to education and public life early on. He married Hermine Alida Georgine Wisbech (1837–1918) in May 1866, and they had at least two sons. Their son Alf Georg Færden became a physician and was married to pianist Elisabeth Reiss for fifteen years. Another son, Christian Wisbech Færden, was an engineer and married into the Kallevig family.
Færden's clerical career included several positions across Norway. He began as a chaplain at Vang Church in Hedmark in 1867 and in 1875 became a priest in Christiania at a work institution for the poor. In 1881, he became vicar at Røyken Church in Buskerud and in 1891 returned to Norderhov as vicar until his death on 17 June 1912.
Besides his religious duties, Færden was active in Norwegian intellectual and religious discussions. He was known for his public debates on religion and theology and published several books. He edited the journal Folkevennen from 1866 to 1867 and Hjemmet from 1876 to 1880. He also co-edited Luthersk Ugeskrift from 1881 to 1893 and Kirkelig Litteraturtidene in 1894, influencing religious discussion in Norway and Scandinavia.
Before Fame
Michael Johan Færden grew up in Norderhov, a rural area in Buskerud, in a family where his father was a farmer and a bank treasurer. This suggests they had moderate social standing with connections to farming and local leadership. He finished his secondary education in 1855 and went on to the Royal Frederick University in Christiania, the main university in Norway at the time. There, he studied theology and graduated in 1861 with a cand.theol. degree.
While still a student, Færden started teaching at Hartvig Nissens skole in 1858, a well-regarded private school in Christiania. This put him among the city's educated professionals even before he became a minister. His early role as editor of Folkevennen in 1866 and 1867 showed his ambition to engage with the public on religious and social issues, as the Norwegian Lutheran church was facing significant theological changes.
Key Achievements
- Earned the cand.theol. degree from the Royal Frederick University in 1861 and built a sustained career in the Lutheran ministry across multiple Norwegian parishes.
- Served as editor of the journals Folkevennen (1866–1867) and Hjemmet (1876–1880), reaching broad public audiences on religious and social topics.
- Co-edited the Luthersk Ugeskrift for twelve years (1881–1893), contributing significantly to Lutheran theological debate in Norway.
- Held the position of vicar at Norderhov Church from 1891 until his death in 1912, providing two decades of pastoral service to his home community.
- Published a number of books and was recognized as a prolific public debater on religion and theology throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Did You Know?
- 01.Færden began teaching at Hartvig Nissens skole in Christiania in 1858, three years before he even completed his theology degree.
- 02.His son Alf Georg Færden was married for fifteen years to the pianist Elisabeth Reiss, daughter of the prominent figure Georg Reiss, linking the family to Norwegian musical culture.
- 03.Færden edited the journal Hjemmet for four years from 1876 to 1880 while simultaneously serving as a priest at a work institution for the poor in Christiania.
- 04.He served as co-editor of the Luthersk Ugeskrift for twelve years, from 1881 to 1893, making it one of his longest-running editorial commitments.
- 05.Færden returned to his birthplace of Norderhov to serve as vicar at Norderhov Church in 1891 and remained there until his death in 1912, completing his life in the same municipality where he was born.