Själevad parish receives the Church of Sweden’s Liturgy Prize 2025

12.6.2025 10:39:05 | Church of Sweden | Press release

“Children are an important part of the church, and in Barnkyrkan, Själevad parish has found innovative ways of working with children based on their curiosity and inclination. These methods are also intergenerational – nobody is too young or too old to take part,” says Ulrica Fritzson, Bishop of Skara Diocese and a member of the nomination group for the Church of Sweden’s Liturgy Prize.

Barnkyrkan is a long-term initiative in Själevad parish, where work has been underway for 15 years on developing services of worship so that they are held on the children’s own terms. Barnkyrkan is also present in schools in the area, has an extensive choir programme and its own church clown.

“We are touched and encouraged by the fact that this year’s prize highlights the worship of children and young people,” says Annie Löfqvist, youth leader, who along with priest Zandra Zinner, children’s leader Anna Åström and organist Marie Hörnell make up the Barnkyrkan team in Själevad parish. “What we are passionate about is finding methods and forms of expression that create a lively atmosphere in church services and in encounters with the sacred.”

From the nomination group’s statement
“The nomination group intends to give the Church of Sweden’s Liturgy Prize 2025 to Barnkyrkan in Själevad parish, Härnösand Diocese. Barnkyrkan puts children at the heart of its work in a way that serves as a model for the entire church and that is theologically sound.”

Nomination group for the Church of Sweden’s Liturgy Prize 2025
Reibjörn Neander, diocesan musician in Skara Diocese
Jesper Eneroth, Member of the Central Board of the Church of Sweden
Ulrica Fritzson, Bishop of Skara Diocese
Marika Lagercrantz, actor and director
Matilda Oldeberg, priest in Gamla Uppsala

Contacts in Själevad parish

Zandra Zinner, 0660-59918, zandra.zinner@svenskakyrkan.se,

Annie Löfqvist, 0660-59903, annie.lofqvist@svenskakyrkan.se

The Church of Sweden’s Liturgy Prize
The Church of Sweden’s Liturgy Prize aims to encourage the development of worship within the Church of Sweden. It is intended to reward work on innovative music, dramaturgy, text and sermons. It also aims to encourage work on ensuring participation in worship in different ways. The prize is awarded every two years to between one and three winners. The total prize money is SEK 50 000.

The Church of Sweden’s Liturgy Prize 2025 will be awarded in a special ceremony at Uppsala Cathedral on 6 November.

Read more about the Church of Sweden’s Liturgy Prize and previous recipients (Swedish).