The Stiklestad church – on a site where a new religious and political era was initiated – the date being 29 July 1030, the day Olaf Haraldson died. Twelve years old Olaf went out on viking journeys, but returned at twenty with two purposes in mind: To make Norway one nation and to christen all its people. Olaf Haraldson didn't belong to the meek (or gentle) that shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5), and he got powerful enemies. On the battle of Stiklestad he fell and the body was brought to Trondheim and buried where the Nidaros Cathedral was built later. One year after Olaf was declared holly, his name was from then on Saint Olaf, or as we Norwegians phrase it (translated): 'Olaf the Holy'. This served a purpose both religiously and politically: His intent became reality.

Shortly after a wooden church was built on the site of the battle. At some time this church burnt down, but in the period 1150–1180 Archbishop Eystein Erlendson had the present church built.

Stiklestad lies in Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag

(2014-10-05)

The west end of the Stiklestad church

(2009-10-28)

The south side of the Stiklestad church

(2009-10-21)