St.
Olav´s church of Avaldsnes.
This church has been a landmark for the seafarers through the staite of Karmsund for 750 years. King Håkon IV Håkonsson gave permission to build a church around the year 1250. It was not completed until nearly 1320, and was at that time the fourth largest in the country. The church was dedicated to St. Olav and received the status of ” Royal Chapel”. During the same period it became one of four ”college-churches” ( it appointed a council of theological and juridical scholars).
Design
and architecture.
The pointed arches,
but thick walls and no pillars, suggest an early Gothic design. The walls are
composed of ordinary gray stone in thickness about 1,2 – 2,0 meters. The
corners and frames around the doors and windows are of steatite (soapstone) from
”Tolgetjønn” near Haugesund.
I. C: Dahl
History.
The
history of the church depicts a fine cross-section of Norway`s history.
Being one of the largest churches along the coast of Norway, it is certain to
have been visited by many travelers on their Pilgrimage to St. Olav`s shrine in
Trondheim.
The decay started
with the Black Death in 1349-51. This disaster was followed by 400 years of
Danish supremacy. In this period lack of repair gradually changed the church
into a ruinous state. In the 17th century a little wooden church was
built inside the stone walls. This one was used for more than 200 years.
The first restoration
work began in 1830. The old steeple was demolished, the nave was rebuilt and a
small wooden steeple was erected on the top.
In the 1920`s the
church was once again restored in a manner which was more similar to its
original architecture. A new stone steeple was built and the interior renewed.
The German occupation
in World War II became dramatic for the church. The Germans asserted that the
high steeple was used as a landmark
for allied planes, coming in over the staite of
Karmsund to drop bombs in
the water. German authorities demanded the
steeple to be demolished. Many people were engaged in the task of saving it, and
they persuaded the Germans to let them camouflage the whole church
with timber! This was to be done in 5 weeks, but the whole job lasted a year.
The 700th-anniversary
of the church in 1950 was a big
event for the community, with concerts and a historical
out-door-play which pictured the Viking history of the place.
The stained glass
windows were ordered for the anniversary. They were made by Bernhard Greve, a
Norwegian painter, and present the most important events in the life of Christ :
Baptism, passion, ascension and return.
”
The sewing needle of the Virgin Mary ” ( ” Jomfru Marias synål ”)
This is the only one remaining of several monumental stones
which once stood around the church area. The stone has been somewhat taller,
but, towering at 7,2 meters it is
still the next largest of its kind in Norway.
The stone leans in towards the church wall – the distance to the wall is in
fact only 9,2 cm.
A saga tells that ” the day of Judgement will come when the stone comes into
contact with the church wall”. A popular story tells us about the minister in
the old ages climbing up the monument and cutting off a piece from the stone
when it came dangerously near the church wall!
The
750th Anniversary.
The 750th-anniversary
will be celebrated in the period of April to July 2000.
There will be
concerts at these dates : May 14th
- June 23 and 24.
A theological and
historical conference will be held at July 28.
The official
Anniversary will take place at the church July 29 (St.Olav`s Day), with
contribution from many local groups, taking place in the out-door surroundings
nearby the church. One of the activities will be a short Pilgrimage, starting at
the Viking House at Bukkøy and ending up at the church. A main service will be
held this day at 9.00 p.m.
St. Olavs church at
Avaldsnes has been a popular motif for many paintings, from the 18th
century on and to our days. An
exhibition of a number of these paintings will be held at Haugesund
Billedgalleri from June 9th till August 16th.