Tord Godal

Who was Tord Godal?

Tord Godal was a Norwegian theologian and bishop for the Diocese of Nidaros. He was decorated Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1969. Godal was also a Freemason.

Godal was born on 27 June 1909 in Stavanger, Norway. He was educated in theology receiving his cand.theol. degree in 1932 and his dr.theol. degree in 1947. He served as a pastor in various positions in the Diocese of Oslo between 1934 and 1940. He was a chaplain in Trondheim from 1940 to 1948, resident chaplain at Bakke Church in Trondheim from 1948 to 1956 and Dean of the Oslo Cathedral from 1956 to 1960. He was bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros from 1960 to 1979, the longest serving bishop in Nidaros during the 20th century. He also served as praeses of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters from 1966 to 1973. Godal died in Trondheim on 27 February 2002.