Churches

The local church is associated with important events in people's life, and in the graveyard close by some of their dear ones may be buried. However, the original purpose of the buildings was to please an almighty God.

In Norway there are about 1620 buildings classified as churches or chapels. Pictures of a few of them are included here to show the diversity.

Alstadhaug church in Levanger built some 900 years ago. The name is a 400 years old misnomer.

Alstahaug church in Helgeland, Nordland – the church of Petter Dass (1647–1707)

Borgund stave church in Lærdal built about 1150

Brattvær church on the island Smøla built 1917. For fishermen and those that drowned

Budal church, south of Trondheim, one of three Y-shaped churches in this country.

Byneset stone church, Trondheim, built approx. 1170–78

Dalen church, halfway between Folldal and Hjerkin, built 1933

Edøy old church on this small island close to the island Smøla, stone church built about 1190

Eidsborg stave church in Telemark (up from Dalen) was probably built in the 1200s

Ervik church on the exposed coast facing the Atlantic. And a special churchyard.

Fiskum church in Darbu at Fiskumvannet, Eiker, built in 1945

Fjærland church in Mundal, Sogn, built 1863

Flå wooden church in Ler, south of Trondheim, built 1794

Fluberg church east of the long lake Randsfjorden, built 1703.

Geiranger church in Western Norway built 1842

Havstein church in Trondheim with an excellent view of the town

Heddal stave church near Notodden, Telemark. The largest stave church, built mainly 1147–1242

Hjørundfjord church in Sæbø on the west side of Hjørundfjorden

Kaupanger stave church in Sogn, built at the end of the 1100s

Klæbu church dates back to 1790. Klæbu has now merged with Trondheim.

Kors church at Marstein in Romsdalen built 1902

Kroken church north of Kragerø – Sannidal. Built 1909 from notched logs and painted white

Kvævemoen chappel in Sirdal built 1962

Lesja church was completed in 1749

Loen church from 1837 and the old Celtic cross

Lom stave church built shortly after 1160

Lånke church built 1901, close to the village Hell

Melhus stone church, "the Gauldal cathedral", just south of Trondheim built 1892

Mo church, Surnadal, Møre og Romsdal, built 1728. Y-shaped

Nerskogen Chapel, Rennebu, Trøndelag, built 1962

Nordberg church in Skjåk, built 1864

Nordbotn church built 1900 on the island Fjellværøy close to Hitra

Nord-Sel church was built from notched timber in 1932

Oppdal church, Trøndelag, built from timber in 1651

Ranem stone church in Overhalla, Namdalen, built 1180

Rein church in Rissa, Trøndelag built 1932 by the writer Johan Bojer

Rjukan Baptist church, built 1923–32, is now protected by law

Røros church or Bergstadens Ziir ("the Mining Town's Beauty"), built 1784

Singsås church built 1884 in Midtre Gauldal, Trøndelag

Sira church built 1869 in Møre og Romsdal. It's formal name is the Eresfjord church

Skatval church in Trøndelag, a few kilometres north of Værnes (Airport).

Skjerstad church in Salten, Nordland, architect Arnstein Arneberg 1959

Snåsa stone church, a small church in the 13th century, extended in 1869

Stangvik church in Nordmøre, built 1896

Stemshaug church in Aure, Nordmøre, built 1908

Stiklestad church in Nord-Trøndelag, built 1150–1180. Cf. the Battle of Stiklestad and St. Olaf's death 1030.

Støren church, built 1817, 50 km south of Trondheim

Sylte church, Valldal, built 1863

Søndeled church, stone building from c.1150 extended with wooden constructions 1760s.

Tiller church built 1901 in Trondheim

Tingvoll stone church in Nordmøre, built in second half of the 1100s

Undredal church at Aurlandsfjorden, Sogn, dates back to 1147. The smallest church in the country.

Værnes church in Trøndelag, now at the end of the airport runway, a stone building erected in 1085

Vågå church built 1625–30 with some parts from a previous stave church

Ålvundeid church built 1848. District of Sunndal, east of Kristiansund.

The Lutheran Church used to be the official church of this country, but recently this has change, without many practical consequences. Most church buildings belong to the Lutheran Church. I should like to show pictures of houses for the worship of a God representing different beliefs, like mosques. Unfortunately this conflicts with my preference for rural areas and their landscapes, because most non-Christian congregations live in urban areas.

Extra

Scorn poles & rock or wooden mares