This thesis examines the effects of secularization on the role and function of the Church of Sweden in Karlstad Diocese over a period spanning at least 110 years, with a particular focus on the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Through a qualitative text analysis of clerical meeting protocols from 1899 and 1905, the study investigates how church leadership perceived and responded to the challenges posed by secularization. The analysis is framed using Charles Taylor’s multidimensional theory of secularization, which facilitates an exploration of both structural and cultural changes impacting the church.

The study identifies four key themes 1 the transformation of religion’s role in everyday life, where faith became increasingly privatized and disengaged from collective practices 2 the church’s diminishing influence in the educational system, as state-led reforms secularized schools and replaced clerical authority with professionalized, secular leadership 3 intra-church secularization, involving shifts in the church’s internal organization and theology, driven by modern efficiency ideals and societal pluralism and 4 the church’s attempts to adapt its preaching and activities to align with an increasingly secularized and modern society. 

Findings show that secularization fundamentally reshaped the Church of Sweden’s societal role, as it transitioned from being a central institution responsible for education, social services, and moral guidance to a more peripheral role in an increasingly secularized public sphere. The study highlights how the church sought to maintain relevance by adopting pragmatic strategies, such as modernizing its organizational structure and reinterpreting theological messages to appeal to a broader audience.

By focusing on Karlstad Diocese, the thesis provides a local perspective on secularization in Sweden, offering insights into how specific historical and geographical contexts influenced the church’s strategies and experiences. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of secularization as a dynamic and multifaceted process that intertwines societal transformations with internal institutional changes.