Kinsarvik Church

Kinsarvik Church (Norwegian: Kinsarvik kyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Ullensvang Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Kinsarvik. It is the church for the Kinsarvik parish which is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The gray stone church was built in a long church style around the year 1160 using designs by an unknown architect. The church seats about 240 people.[1][2]

Kinsarvik Church
Kinsarvik kyrkje
View of the church
Kinsarvik Church Location of the church Kinsarvik Church Kinsarvik Church (Norway)
60.3763°N 6.7219°E
Location	Ullensvang, Vestland
Country	Norway
Denomination	Church of Norway
Previous denomination	Catholic Church
Churchmanship	Evangelical Lutheran
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Long church
Completed	1160
Specifications
Capacity	240
Materials	Stone
Administration
Parish	Kinsarvik
Deanery	Hardanger og Voss prosti
Diocese	Bjørgvin bispedømme
Norwegian Cultural Heritage Site
Type	Church
Status	Automatically protected
ID	84775

It is the oldest stone church in the whole Hardanger region, and at one time, it was one of the four main churches for all of the old Hordafylke county.

History

The first wooden church in all of Hardanger was built on this site around the year 1050. It was most likely a wooden church which was replaced by the present stone church around the year 1160. Remains of the previous church have been found under the present church. The foundation walls were built about 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) wide. Archaeological investigations have found that there was a fire in the church, likely around the year 1180. This was around the time when the Birkebeiners ravaged Hordaland county as they were fighting for power. The church was originally built without a choir, and the choir was built after the fire, probably in the early 13th century. High up on the west gable is window opening leading into the church attic. It is probably here they have hoisted the local ship sails and masts to store during the winters.[3][4]

Media gallery

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See also

• List of churches in Bjørgvin

References

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