Øystese Church

Øystese Church (Norwegian: Øystese kyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kvam Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Øystese. It is the church for the Øystese parish which is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden church was built in a long church style in 1868 using designs by the architect C. Erichsen who used drawings by Jacob Wilhelm Nordan. The church seats about 500 people.[1][2]

Øystese Church
Øystese kyrkje
View of the church
Øystese Church Location of the church Show map of Vestland Øystese Church Øystese Church (Norway) Show map of Norway
60.3877°N 6.2031°E / 60.3877; 6.2031
Location	Kvam Municipality, Vestland
Country	Norway
Denomination	Church of Norway
Churchmanship	Evangelical Lutheran
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	13th century
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Long church
Completed	1868
Specifications
Capacity	500
Materials	Wood
Administration
Parish	Øystese
Deanery	Hardanger og Voss prosti
Diocese	Bjørgvin bispedømme
Norwegian Cultural Heritage Site
Type	Church
Status	Listed
ID	85946

History

The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1306, and it was likely built around that time. The first church here was a stave church, located about 400 metres (0.25 mi) to the northwest of the present site of the church. In 1845, the church underwent significant repairs. In 1868, a new church was built closer to the shoreline of the fjord, about 400 metres (0.25 mi) to the southeast of the old church. After the new church was completed, the old church was torn down. During the demolition, the workers found a coin and other items dating to the early 1300s beneath the foundation, which help to date the construction of the church.[3][4][5]

Media gallery

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  Model of the old church before 1868

See also

• List of churches in Bjørgvin

References

1. "Øystese kyrkje". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
2. "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
3. "Kirker i Hordaland fylke" (in Norwegian). DIS-Hordaland. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
4. "Øystese gamle kirkested" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
5. "Øystese kyrkjestad / Øystese kyrkje 2" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 20 May 2020.