Old Gimmestad Church

The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1308, but it was not a new church at that time. The old medieval building was likely a stave church that stood until 1652 when it was replaced. In 1652, a new timber-framed building was constructed, but it was not a high quality building. In December of 1690, the church took on significant damage in a winter storm, with the wind severely damaging the building. It was torn down and replaced with the present building which was completed in 1692.[4]

The current church building is representative of typical Norwegian church architecture from the period after the Reformation. Although changes were made to its walls, the church has retained most of its original features. The most significant change was made around 1720, when the church was painted red and embellished with flower motifs. During that same renovation project the ceiling was painted blue and stars were drawn on it. At the back of the church building is a christening house or front house. In the old days, babies were christened in this room. It was the custom in those days to then carry the baby from this room to the altar.[4][5]

In the early 1900s, the church was too small for the congregation, so it was decided to build a new, larger church. The new Gimmestad Church was built about 0.6 kilometres (0.37 mi) to the east, closer to the fjord. After the new church was completed in 1910, it became the main church for the parish and the old church was taken out of regular use. It is now used mostly as a museum, but on special occasions it is still used as a church.[4]

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  The altarpiece of the Old Gimmestad Church
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  The unique personalized benches in the Old Gimmestad Church
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  A cod in the church, symbolizing Jonah and the whale
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• List of churches in Bjørgvin