Dismissed as parish priest of Balsfjord Municipality in 1983 due to his refusal to perform his official state duties in protest against new abortion laws, he helped establish the Deanery of Strandebarm in 1991, also known as the "Church of Norway in Exile".

His father was arrested and defrocked during the German occupation of Norway in the Second World War, causing a lasting impression on Knudsen.

He claimed to model his actions from the Norwegian bishops and majority of priests' opposition to the Nazi-friendly regime in Norway during the occupation in the Second World War.

He continued his duties as a minister of the church and pastor for his congregation, but did not report statistics to the state, issue birth certificates or open mail addressed to him as a civil servant.

In 1987, these three started non-violent protests at abortion clinics, turning up in traditional ministerial robes and singing psalms.

They also performed other public stunts such as symbolic burials of small coffins, and pouring blood over themselves outside the Norwegian parliament.

[1][2] Knudsen wrote a large amount of hymn poetry, and collections of some of his sermons have been printed in books and booklets.

[2] Knudsen died on 17 August[citation needed] 2014 at his home in Mestervik in Balsfjord Municipality, Troms county.