User:Linnea81/Tore Forslund

Tore Forslund probably more known as ”Spökprästen” “The ghostpriest” was born 26th of February 1927 in Krylbo, Sweden. His mother was an officer in the salvation army and his father was a postoffice employee. Tore was a writer, poet, Lutherian priest, streetmusican and editor of the magazine A voice crying in the wilderness that he founded 1957.

Tore was ordained a Lutherian priest in Luleå Cathedral 19th of December 1956 after a few years studies at Johannelunds theological institut and Lunds University.

He held his first cermon as 18 years old on New Years day 1946 and his last public cermon was held in Alvesta 1999.

Tore could often be seen on the streets of Sweden playing his favourite instrument his concertina. He called Sergelgatan in Stockholm for his “central sanctuary”.

His nickname “The ghostpriest” came to be during a time when he worked as a priest in Borgvattnet, Jämtland 1980-81. He offered the village to relieve Borgvattnet from the ghosts that was said to accomondate the old parsonage. He was also strongly against the occult phenomena that existed in the district. They sold miniangels and minidevils in the village shop and if you dared to sleep over in the old parsonage that now was a converted hotel a diploma was handled out. Disappointed at not being able to meet the accusations the cathedral chapter had against him he decided to leave the Swedish church 1981 and started to work independently with fulltime street mission.

Tores controvercial preaching methods often made him a object of discussion. He was very much liked by many and also hated by others. He also raised debate and anger amoung many who saw him as a stubborn and provocative prophet of doom.

Tore was always very open and often started conversations with strangers he meet on the streets, on busses and trains whereever he travelled. Migrants and marginalized people often became his best friends.

Tore died March 15 2000 at Växjö hospital age 73 years old.