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266
iii. constitution and administration of sweden.
A country parish in Sweden has an average area of about 190 square
kilometers (in the six northernmost Läns of about 1,000 sq. km., in the rest of
only about 75). In North Sweden, parishes are often enormously large; that of
Gellivare has an area of 17,000 sq. km., or more than that of the whole of the
Kingdom of Saxony. The population in a country parish averages about 1,700,
but in a town one, upwards of 9,000. In Stockholm many parishes are exceedingly
populous, with as many as 50,000 members and upwards. The total number
of clergymen in Sweden is about ’2,800, or one to 1,800 inhabitants, a proportion
which for a Protestant country may be termed normal. In North Sweden,
however, the relative number of clergymen is considerably less.
In the quinquennium of 1876/80 the expenditure of the parishes in Sweden
on the Church and the clergy amounted to 9’oa million kronor a year, and in
1891/95 to 10*63 million kronor, being 2’oi and 2’2o respectively per inhabitant.
See further Table 41, p. 251. The value of the churches themselves is estimated
at 95 million kronor. (A krona = l’io shilling or 0’268 dollar).
Lund Cathedral.
The alteration of greatest moment in ecclesiastical legislation
during the 19th century was the practical carrying out of the principles
of religious liberty.
Since 1741, it is true, foreigners adhering to the Reformed Church have
enjoyed the right of the free exercise of their religion in Sweden; this right
was extended in 1781 to those of other Christian creeds, and in 1782 to Jews
also. In spite, however, of the decree of the Constitution that »the King shall not
constrain or cause to constrain any man’s conscience, but shall protect every
one in the free exercise of his religion, provided he do not thereby disturb
the public peace nor give offence to the public», the old severe regulations for
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