Ulvik Church

Ulvik Church (Norwegian: Ulvik kyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Samnanger Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Ulvik. It is the church for the Ulvik parish which is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform style in 1859 using designs by the architect Hans Linstow. The church seats about 500 people.[1][2]

Ulvik Church
Ulvik kyrkje
View of the church
Ulvik Church Location of the church Show map of Vestland Ulvik Church Ulvik Church (Norway) Show map of Norway
60.5672°N 6.91722°E / 60.5672; 6.91722
Location	Ulvik Municipality, Vestland
Country	Norway
Denomination	Church of Norway
Churchmanship	Evangelical Lutheran
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	13th century
Consecrated	5 May 1859
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Hans Linstow
Architectural type	Cruciform
Completed	1859
Specifications
Capacity	500
Materials	Wood
Administration
Parish	Ulvik
Deanery	Hardanger og Voss prosti
Diocese	Bjørgvin bispedømme
Norwegian Cultural Heritage Site
Type	Church
Status	Listed
ID	85723

History

The current cruciform church is the third church in Ulvik. The first church was a stave church which was probably built in the first half of the 13th century. The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1309. The original church was located at Nedre Hakastad, about 800 metres (2,600 ft) northeast of the present location of the church. Some parts of the original church, including the gate posts and antependium from the front of the altar are now at the Historical Museum in Bergen. A copy of this antependium (which is considered one of the great works of Norwegian medieval art) hangs today in the present church. The altar chalice, baptismal font, and the largest church bell in today's church all come from the old medieval stave church.[3][4]

The stave church was demolished in 1710, and a wooden cruciform church was built on the site. In 1859, a new church was constructed along the fjord, about 800 metres (2,600 ft) southwest of the old location of the church. When the new church was completed, the old church was torn down.[5] The present church is a cruciform church with a tower above the main entrance.[4] Then new church was consecrated on 5 May 1859 by the bishop Jens Matthias Pram Kaurin. The site of the old church remained as a cemetery for many years into the 20th century before being redone as a memorial grove as it is today.[3][6]

Interior

The altarpiece was painted in 1876 by Andreas Askevold. It is a replica of a French painting, and shows Jesus being taken down from the cross. The old altarpiece showing the Eucharist, also hangs in the church. This is from around 1630. The walls of the church were decorated by the artist Lars Osa from Ulvik in 1923. He painted traditional rosemaling designs throughout the interior of the church.[7]

Media gallery

• 
  Exterior
• 
  Exterior at night
• 
  View of the church surroundings
• 
  Wedding at the church in 1954
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  Altar and altar table
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  Wall painting (rosemaling above the painting)
• 
  Wall painting
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  Old altarpiece (from 1630)

See also

• List of churches in Bjørgvin

References

1. "Ulvik kyrkje". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
2. "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
3. "Hakastad kirkested - Ulvik gamle kirkested" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
4. "Ulvik kirke" (in Norwegian). Norges kirker. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
5. "Kirker i Hordaland fylke" (in Norwegian). DIS-Hordaland. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
6. "Ulvik kyrkjestad / Ulvik kyrkje 3" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
7. Store norske leksikon. "Ulvik – kommune i Hordaland" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 May 2014.