Alstadhaug Church

Alstadhaug Church (Norwegian: Alstadhaug kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Levanger municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Alstadhaug. It is the church for the Alstadhaug parish which is part of the Stiklestad prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros. The church seats about 300 people.[1][2][3]

Alstadhaug Church
Alstadhaug kirke
View of the church
Alstadhaug Church Location of the church Show map of Trøndelag Alstadhaug Church Alstadhaug Church (Norway) Show map of Norway
63.7239°N 11.2250°E / 63.7239; 11.2250
Location	Levanger, Trøndelag
Country	Norway
Denomination	Church of Norway
Previous denomination	Catholic Church
Churchmanship	Evangelical Lutheran
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Unknown
Architectural type	Long church
Completed	ca. 1180
Specifications
Capacity	300
Materials	Stone
Administration
Parish	Alstadhaug
Deanery	Stiklestad prosti
Diocese	Nidaros

History

Altarpiece carve by woodcarver Johan Johansen

Alstadhaug church was built during the 12th century. The church building is built of stone with wood ceilings. Dendrochronology surveys of the roof works show the timber dates to 1166-67. It is therefore likely that the church was completed in ca. 1170.[4][5][6]

The church was built in a long church style by an unknown architect. It features elements from both Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The church has been remodeled several times and the floor plan has undergone several changes. The interior features the remains of murals from the 13th century with famous Biblical motifs. The altarpiece dating from the 1650s was carved by Trøndelag-based artist and craftsman Johan Johansen, (d. 1657) listed as woodcarver (bilthugger) and painted by Johan Hanssønn listed as portrait artist (kontrafeier).[7][8][9][10]

Next to the church is Olvishaugen, a large burial mound. Olvishaugen measures 55 metres across and has a height of almost 6 metres. It has not been excavated but estimates have dated it from the Iron Age (5th to 8th centuries AD).[11]

Church interior

• 
  Church nave
  Credit: Hideko Bondesen
• 
  Pulpit details, angel Gabriel
  Credit: Arnstein Rønning
• 
  Fresco over apse arc
  Credit: Hideko Bondesen
• 
  Details of octagonal apse
  Credit: Hideko Bondesen

See also

• List of churches in Nidaros

References

1. "Alstadhaug kirke". Kulturminnesøk. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
2. "Alstadhaug kirke". lokalhistoriewiki. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
3. "Alstadhaug kirke". Trøndelag Historiske Norge. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
4. "Alstadhaug kirke, Skogn". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
5. "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
6. "Alstadhaug kirke" (in Norwegian). Sør-Innherred prosti. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
7. Sigrid Christie. "Johan Johansen, bilthugger". Norsk kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
8. Erik Mørstad. "bilthugger". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
9. Ingeborg Reitan. "Johan Hanssønn, kontrafeier". Norsk kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
10. Børge Nordbø. "kontrafeier". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
11. "Alstadhaug Church and the enormous burial mound". stiklestadpilgrimcenter.org. Retrieved September 1, 2018.

Other sources

• Brovoll, Asle K. (1999)Alstahaug kirke : en kulturskatt (Alstahaug : A.K. Brovoll) ISBN 8299510600