Kvamsøy Church

Kvamsøy Church (Norwegian: Kvamsøy kyrkje) is a historic parish church of the Church of Norway in Sogndal Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located on the small island of Kvamsøy. It was the church for the old Kvamsøy parish which is now part of the Sogn prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, stone church was built in a basilica style between the years 1280 and 1300. The church seats about 210 people.[1][2]

Kvamsøy Church
Kvamsøy kyrkje
View of the church
Kvamsøy Church
Location of the church
Kvamsøy Church
Kvamsøy Church (Norway)
61.1287°N 6.4845°E / 61.1287; 6.4845
LocationSogndal Municipality,
Vestland
CountryNorway
DenominationChurch of Norway
Previous denominationCatholic Church
ChurchmanshipEvangelical Lutheran
History
StatusHistoric Parish church
Foundedc. 1280-1300
Architecture
Functional statusPreserved museum
Architectural typeBasilica
Completedc. 1280-1300
Specifications
Capacity210
MaterialsStone
Administration
ParishBalestrand
DeanerySogn prosti
DioceseBjørgvin

History

The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1330, but it was not new that year. The church was likely built between 1280 and 1300 by an unknown architect. The main body of the church measures 17.8 by 7.9 metres (58 ft × 26 ft). The current tower on the church dates back to 1715.[3][4]

This was the church for the parish of Kvamsøy until it was replaced in 1903 by the newly built Sæle Church. Since the new church was built, Kvamsøy Church is no longer used regularly. Instead there are only two services held each year: one in May and one on Olsok. Other special services such as funerals and weddings can be held there when requested. There is no electric heating in the church, so it is not used at all from October until May. The church is a protected historical site.[5]

  • Interior view
  • View of the altar
  • View of a window (and the 1.34 metre-thick walls)
  • The church seats
  • Baptismal bowl

See also

References
  1. "Kvamsøy kyrkje". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  2. "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  3. Henden Aaraas, Margrethe; Vengen, Sigurd; Gjerde, Anders. "Kvamsøy kyrkje" (in Norwegian). Fylkesarkivet. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  4. "Kvamsøy kirkested" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  5. "Kvamsøy Kyrkje". Kirkesøk. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
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