Aleksi Emanuel Lehtonen was archbishop of Turku 1945–1951.

Lehtonen was ordained to priesthood in 10th of June 1911. Later he was professor of pastoral theology in University of Helsinki

University of Helsinki

The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...

, Bishop of Tampere 1934-1945 and archbishop of Turku 1945–1951.

Lehtonen was active in Ecumenical movement and sought Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the national church of Finland. The church professes the Lutheran branch of Christianity, and is a member of the Porvoo Communion....

 to have closer relationship with Church of England

Church of England

The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...

.

His son Samuel Lehtonen

Samuel Lehtonen

Samuel Lehtonen was the Lutheran bishop of the Diocese of Helsinki of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland from 1982-1991.-Notes:...

 became Bishop of Helsinki.

External links

• "Towards 'a real reunion'?" : Archbishop Aleksi Lehtonen's efforts for closer relations with the Church of England 1945–1951 by Mika K.T. Pajunen, 2008
• Report of the Committee Appointed to Confer with Representatives of the Church of Finland In Accordance with Resolution 38 of the Lambeth Conference, 1930