Editing Rotherhithe (section)

===Nordic connection===
{{See also|Nordic churches in London}}
[[File:FinnChLondon.JPG|right|thumb|The Finnish Church, Albion Street]]
[[File:West Face of St Olav's Church, Rotherhithe (I).jpg|left|thumb|upright|St Olav's, Rotherhithe's Norwegian church]]

Because much of the former [[Surrey Docks]] had strong trade links to [[Scandinavia]] and the [[Balts|Baltic]] region, the area is still home to a thriving Scandinavian community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/48-hours-in-scandinavian-london-5365972.html|title=48 hours in Scandinavian London|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=24 February 2001}}</ref> During World War II, in fact, it housed the Norwegian Government-in-Exile. Originally established as seafarers' missions, Rotherhithe is home to a [[Church of Norway|Norwegian]],<ref>[http://www.norway.org.uk/norwayuk/norwegianseamenschurch/church.htm Norwegian Church and Seamen's Mission, St Olav's Church] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> a [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Finnish]]<ref>[http://www.finnishchurch.org.uk/ The Finnish Church in London] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> and a [[Church of Sweden|Swedish]]<ref>[http://www.swedish-church.org.uk/ The Swedish Church in London] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> church. The [[Finnish Seamen's Mission#The Finnish Church, London|Finnish Church]] and the [[The Norwegian Church in London|Norwegian Church]] are both in Albion Street; they were built in 1958 and 1927 respectively (Rotherhithe Library is between them). There are also a number of "community centres" for the Nordic community in London, including hostels, shops and cafés and even a [[sauna]], mostly linked closely to the churches.

Some of the redeveloped areas were built by [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] architects, such as the Greenland Passage development<ref name=passage>[http://www.greenlandpassage.co.uk/development.html Greenland Passage development] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> by Danish Company [[Kjær & Richter]]. This gives some areas a distinctly "Nordic" feel in terms of house and street design.

The relationship with Scandinavia and the Baltic is also reflected in the names of some of the buildings (such as the [[Frederik IX of Denmark|King Frederik IX]] Tower),<ref name=passage/> the street names (e.g. Finland Street, Sweden Gate, [[Baltic Quay]], Norway Gate, Helsinki Square) or other place names (e.g. Greenland Dock). Another major influence factor was trade with [[Russia]] and [[Canada]] (mainly timber), reflected in names such as Canada Water<ref>[http://www.canadawater.org Canada Water Campaign and Canada Water Consultative Forum] accessed 4 July 2007</ref> and the [[Russia Dock]] Woodland.