Närke is located in gnällbältet (the whining belt), not the bible belt, but Örebro was a free church town as early as the 1800s. Many free churches came to be important in the business, politics and entertainment spheres. Belonging to a religious group meant having a safe network and opportunities to climb the ladder even for a newcomer from the country. Many other religions are visible in the town today, and one thing is clear: religion means a lot to many of the inhabitants of Örebro.
