CHURCH AND SCHOOL I. The Church. Christianity was introduced into Norway in the eleventh century. The country was Roman Catholic until 1536, when the Evangelical-Lutheran religion was introduced by Royal Decree. Conversion to the new religion proceeded at a rapid pace, and at the present day approximately 97 per cent. of the population is Lutheran (holds membership in the State Church). There are only 91,459 dissen- ters in the whole country (1930), most of whom are Methodists (abt. 12,000) and Baptists (abt. 7,700). Roman Catholics number 2,800. Ecclesiastically, the country is divided into seven dioceses: Oslo, Hamar, Agder, Stavanger, Bjorgvin, Nidaros, and Haalogaland. Under the dioceses are the deaneries, numbering 91; and under them 520 parishes and 1091 livings. The clergy are trained either by the Theological Faculty of Oslo University or by the Congrega- tional Faculty. 43