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 | |
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Kvamsøy kyrkje | |
View of the church | |
Kvamsøy Church Location of the church Kvamsøy Church Kvamsøy Church (Norway) | |
61.1287°N 6.4845°E | |
Location | Sogndal Municipality, Vestland |
Country | Norway |
Denomination | Church of Norway |
Previous denomination | Catholic Church |
Churchmanship | Evangelical Lutheran |
History | |
Status | Historic Parish church |
Founded | c. 1280-1300 |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Preserved museum |
Architect(s) | Unknown |
Architectural type | Basilica |
Completed | c. 1280-1300 |
Specifications | |
Capacity | 210 |
Materials | Stone |
Administration | |
Parish | Balestrand |
Deanery | Sogn prosti |
Diocese | Bjørgvin |
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]
Media gallery
- 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
- "Kvamsøy kyrkje". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- Henden Aaraas, Margrethe; Vengen, Sigurd; Gjerde, Anders. "Kvamsøy kyrkje" (in Norwegian). Fylkesarkivet. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- "Kvamsøy kirkested" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- "Kvamsøy Kyrkje". Kirkesøk. Retrieved 7 February 2014.