Ullensvang Church

Ullensvang Church (Norwegian: Ullensvang kyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Ullensvang Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Lofthus. It is the church for the Ullensvang parish which is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The large stone church was built in a long church style around the year 1250 using designs by an unknown architect. The church seats about 350 people.[1][2]

Ullensvang Church
Ullensvang kyrkje
View of the church
Ullensvang Church Location of the church Show map of Vestland Ullensvang Church Ullensvang Church (Norway) Show map of Norway
60.3196°N 6.6530°E / 60.3196; 6.6530
Location	Ullensvang, Vestland
Country	Norway
Denomination	Church of Norway
Previous denomination	Catholic Church
Churchmanship	Evangelical Lutheran
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	c. 1250
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Unknown
Architectural type	Long church
Completed	c. 1250
Specifications
Capacity	350
Materials	Stone
Administration
Parish	Ullensvang
Deanery	Hardanger og Voss prosti
Diocese	Bjørgvin bispedømme
Norwegian Cultural Heritage Site
Type	Church
Status	Automatically protected
ID	85715

The church was built in the 13th century and has been remodeled and expanded several times over the centuries. Colloquially, the church is known as the Hardangerdomen (lit. Hardanger Dome) due to its size, history, and central location in the Hardanger region of the county.[3]

History

The area of Ullensvang is named after the old pagan god Ullin. Ullensvang is thus an old name. It is reasonable that Ullensvang had religious gathering place before the time of Christianity in Norway. When Christianity came to the area, it is likely that a church was built here where the old temple had stood.

The earliest existing historical records of Ullensvang Church date back to the year 1309, but it is likely that the stone church was built between the years 1250–1300. Legend has it that the church was built by people from Scotland. Originally, the church had no tower, but the current tower was built between 1883 and 1885 during an expansion and renovation led by the architect Christian Christie.[3][4] In 1958, the church was restored by the architect Arnstein Arneberg.[1][5]

Media gallery

• 
  Old drawing of the church
• 
  Main entrance to the church
• 
  Interior of the church (looking towards the back)
• 
  Interior of the church (looking towards the front)
• 
  Exterior rear view (bef. 1960)
• 
  Side exterior view (c. 1950)

See also

• List of churches in Bjørgvin

References

1. "Ullensvang kyrkje". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
2. "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
3. "Ullensvang kyrkje" (in Norwegian). Ullensvang herad. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
4. "Ullensvang kyrkje" (in Norwegian). Norges kirker. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
5. "Ullensvang kyrkjestad" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 21 May 2020.