Hjelmeland Church

Hjelmeland Church (Norwegian: Hjelmeland kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Hjelmeland Municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Hjelmelandsvågen. It is the church for the Hjelmeland parish which is part of the Ryfylke prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Stavanger. The white, wooden church was built in a long church design in 1858 using designs by the architect Hans Linstow. The church seats about 500 people.[1][2]

Hjelmeland Church
Hjelmeland kyrkje
View of the church
59.23586°N 6.18066°E
Location	Hjelmeland Municipality, Rogaland
Country	Norway
Denomination	Church of Norway
Churchmanship	Evangelical Lutheran
History
Former name(s)	Sæbø kirke
Status	Parish church
Founded	12th century
Consecrated	1858
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Hans Linstow
Architectural type	Long church
Completed	1858
Specifications
Capacity	500
Materials	Wood
Administration
Parish	Hjelmeland
Deanery	Ryfylke prosti
Diocese	Stavanger bispedømme
Norwegian Cultural Heritage Site
Type	Church
Status	Protected
ID	84583

History

The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1280, but the church was likely built during the 12th century. Originally, the stave church was located at Sæbø on an island in the estuary of a small river, about 125 metres (410 ft) northwest of the present site of the church in Hjelmeland.[3]

The church was then known as Sæbø Church and the priest had a farm, just south of the river in Hjelmeland. Over time the names Sæbø and Hjelmeland were used interchangeably for the church and parish. In the years 1618-28, a number of construction works were carried out on the church, including the erection of a new tower. Also, a new and larger nave was added to the west.[3]

In 1858, a new church was built about 125 metres (410 ft) to the southeast across the river on the site of the priest's farm. The new church was known as Hjelmeland Church, after the name of the farm on which it was located. The old church was torn down soon afterwards.[4]

See also

• List of churches in Rogaland

References

1. "Hjelmeland kyrkje". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
2. "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
3. "Hjelmeland gamle kirkested - Sæbo kirkested - Øyrå" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
4. "Hjelmeland kyrkjestad / Hjelmeland kyrkje 2" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 11 October 2020.