1. TITLE: Churches of Gudbrandsdal, Norway: 1000 Years of Church History IMAGES: Shown are the Coats of Arms for each kommune in Gudbrandsdal. The slide show is organized by kommune. IMAGES SOURCE: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/)/ Public Domain. 2. INTRODUCTION SOME HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS The Vikings brought Christianity to Norway. The Roman Catholic religion was the church of Norway for 600 years, from 900 to 1537. PHOTO: VIKING SHIP: Viking Ship Museum at Bygdøy, Oslo. Photo by Nancy Pickering, Jun 2016. 1 3. INTRODUCTION (continued) In 1021 Olav Haraldsson went through Gudbrandsdalen converting people to Christianity, including chieftain Dale Gudbrands at Hundrop. PHOTO: MARKER: By Les Floeter, 2005 4. INTRODUCTION (continued) Following Olav’s death in 1030, King Olav was declared a Saint. Pilgrims came through the valley to Trondheim, the site of the St. Olav shrine. Today, with renewed interest in ‘The Pilgrim’s Way,’ signs dot the landscape, often at Gudbrandsdal churches along the way. IMAGE: Image shows the symbol used on signs and markers to indicate “The Pilgrim’s Way.” 2 5. INTRODUCTION (continued) In the 12th–13th Century about 1000 stave churches were built in Norway; 28 remain today, three of which are in Gud- brandsdal. PHOTOS: LOM STAVE CHURCH: By Jan Floeter, 2005. RINGEBU STAVE CHURCH: By Jan Floeter, 2007. GARMO STAVE CHURCH: By Jan Floeter, 2005. 6. INTRODUCTION (continued) The Lutheran Reformation was adopted in 1537 and King Christian III of Denmark–Norway laid the foundation for the state church system. In 2012 the Church of Norway was granted more autonomy, and a new law took effect on 1 January 2017 which established the Church of Norway as an independent legal entity, although the church remains state funded. IMAGE: Logo Coat of Arms created from file available at Wikimedia Commons, and licensed under the Attribu- tion-Share Alike 3.0 license. Logo Lettering re-created from viewing the logo on the Church of Norway website (kirken. no) by Nancy Pickering. 3 7. INTRODUCTION (continued) King Fredrik IV decided in 1723 that local governments should buy the churches and have the responsibility for them in the future. Churches were built, mainly cross churches to enlarge & replace older churches in bad repair. PHOTOS: DOVRE CHURCH: By Polly Johnson, 2005. LESJA CHURCH: By Jan Floeter, 2005. SKJÅK CHURCH: By Johanna Hocker, scanned 2009. 8. INTRODUCTION (continued) The octagon church style first appeared in the valley in 1787 when the cathedral at Sør-Fron was built. In the 1860s three more were built. PHOTOS: NORDBERG CHURCH: By Les Floeter, 2005. SØR-FRON CHURCH: By Jan Floeter, 2005. BØVERDALEN CHURCH: By Jan Floeter, 2007. SVATSUM CHURCH: By Jan Floeter, 2005. 4 9. INTRODUCTION (continued) Mountain churches became popular in the 1900’s providing a place for worship, but also a place for members to gather for community activities. PHOTOS: EYSTEIN MT. CHURCH: By Jan Floeter, 2007. ESPEDALEN MT. CHURCH: By Jan Floeter, 2005. 10. INTRODUCTION (continued) This is a map of the parishes in Gudbrandsdal. Many parish borders are roughly equivalent to kommuner borders, with further divisions. Over time, some churches near Gudbrandsdal borders may have come under jurisdiction of parishes in Hedmark to the north or Valdres to the south. IMAGES: Both images started as vector files from Wikimedia Commons and are used under the Wikimedia Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 International license. They were further customized by Nancy Pickering just for this presentation. 5 11. INTRODUCTION (continued) Following is a brief presentation of fifty-six Gudbrandsdal churches. The churches are grouped by kommune, beginning in the north and moving southward through the valley. ENJOY!! 12. MAPS SHOWING LOCATION OF CHURCHES IN LESJA & DOVRE KOMMUNER IMAGES: Parish map and Coats of Arms previously identified. Roadmap from Google Maps with additional points and labels added. 6 13. KEYPOINTS AND SOURCES USED FOR: DESCRIPTION SOURCES: 2a. www.bjorli.no dated 1/12/09. LESJASKOG CHURCH – Lesja Kommune 2b. www.gonorway.com/norway/counties/oppland/ 1. Built in 1697 for the Lesja ironworks workers. – 2a, 2b, 2c lesja/ dated 4/27/09. 2. Church moved to Lesjaskog in 1855. – 2a, 2b 2c. www.lesja.kommune.no dated 4/21/09. 3. Restored in 1957. – 2a, 2b 4. Three markers located on the grounds. PHOTO(S): CHURCH: By Jim Olson MARKER: By Jim Olson 14. KEYPOINTS AND SOURCES USED FOR: kirke#/media/File:Lesjaverk_church_west.JPG LESJAVERK CHURCH – Lesja Kommune DESCRIPTION SOURCE: 1. Built in 1964, on the former site of Lesjaskog church. www.bjorli.no on 1/12/09. 2. Built of cog jointed logs. 3. Otto Sveen was the wood carver. 4. Seats 120 people. PHOTO: Church photo by Erik den yngre, Jul 2014. Used under the Wikimedia Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 or 4.0 International license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lesjaverk_ 7 15. LESJAVERK CHURCH INTERIOR PHOTO: By Linda Sutton Folk, creation date undetermined. 16. KEYPOINTS AND SOURCES USED FOR: DESCRIPTION SOURCES: 1a. www.bjorli.no dated 1/12/09. LESJA CHURCH – Lesja Kommune 1b. Lesja Kirke brochure – ½ page – located in Lag’s 1. Built in 1749 near site of older church. – 1a, 1b Dovre og Lesja Kirker Notebook. 2. Showcases the finest altarpiece & pulpit acanthus carving in 1c. Trip notes on Lesja kirke from 2005. Gudbrandsdal by Jakob B. Klukstad. – 1am 1c PHOTOS: CHURCH: By Linda Sutton Folk, creation date undeter- mined. BULLETIN BOARD – Scanned from Lag’s Dovre og Lesja Kirker Notebook. 8 17. LESJA CHURCH INTERIOR PHOTOS: Altar photo by Ginny Wegenast, Jun 2005. Pulpit photo by Ginny Wegenast, Jun 2005. Altar Detail photo by Jan Floeter, Jun 2005. Ceiling photo by Ginny Wegenast, Jun 2005. Pulpit Carving Detail photo by Ginny Wegenast, Jun 2005. 18. KEYPOINTS AND SOURCES USED FOR: International license. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sjong_seterkapell#/ SJONG SETERKAPELL — Lesja Kommune media/File:Sjong_seterkapell.JPG 1. Architect: Johan Traadahl. 2. Inaugurated 3 March, 1981. DESCRIPTION SOURCES: 3. Built on seter to Lesja prestegard. www.bjorli.no on 1/12/09 4. Built in 3 sections, seats 50. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sjong_seterkapell. 5. Church bell early 1990s, hangs in casting of pine tree. Used to update text 3/01/18 by Nancy Pickering. 6. “Sports club” use. PHOTO: by Jan-Torre Egge, Aug 2011, used under the Wiki- media Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 or 4.0 9 19. KEYPOINTS AND SOURCES USED FOR: EYSTEIN MT. CHURCH – Dovre Kommune 1. In 1969 the medieval church at Hjerkinn, near Eystein’s (1103-1123) mountain lodges, rebuilt. 2. Serves as a gathering place for area people. 3. Pilgrim’s Way goes by church. 4. Church was inspiration of Pastor Ingvald Skaare, our guest at 50th Lag Anniversary. CHURCH PHOTO: Jan Floeter, Jun 2007. 20. EYSTEIN MT. CHURCH INTERIOR PHOTOS: Pulpit photo by Jan Floeter, Jun 2007. Aisle photo by Kathy Pedersen, Jul 2009. Baptismal Font photo by Ginny Wegenast, Jun 2007. 10 21. KEYPOINTS AND SOURCES USED FOR: DESCRIPTION SOURCE: 5a. www.gonorway.com/norway/counties/oppland/ DOMBÅS CHURCH – Dovre Kommune lesja/. 1. Built in 1936. - 5a 2. Cruciform church. - 5a 3. Local sparagmitt stone exterior. - 5a 4. Located just off E-6 in Dombås, north of Dovre. PHOTO: CHURCH: Allwyn and Shirley Bakken, scanned in 2009. 22. KEYPOINTS AND SOURCES USED FOR: PILGRIMS WAY SIGN: Les Floeter, Jun 2005. DESCRIPTION SOURCES: DOVRE CHURCH – Dovre Kommune 4a. www.gonorway.com/norway/couties/oppland/ 1. Built in 1736. - 4a, 4b dovre/ 2. Classical cruciform church built of timber, slate exterior. - 4b. The Dovre Church Historic Sheet – located in 4a Lag’s Dovre og Lesja Kirker Notebook. 3. Altarpiece & baptismal font from old church. - 4a, 4b 4c. Zion’s Church at Dovre is 250 Years by Arnfinn 4. Unique Empire-style tower from 1840. – 4c Engen – located in Lag Dovre kirke notebook. 5. Pilgrim’s Way sign. PHOTOS: CHURCH: Kathy Pedersen, Jul 2009. 11 23. DOVRE CHURCH INTERIOR PHOTOS: Altar photo by Chris Falteisek, Jun 2005. Carved Ship photo by Les Floeter, Jun 2005. Wing photo by Chris Falteisek, Jun 2004. Pulpit photo by Chris Falteisek, Jun 2004. 24. MAPS SHOWING LOCATION OF CHURCHES IN SKJÅK & LOM KOMMUNER IMAGES: Parish map and Coats of Arms previously identified. Roadmap from Google Maps with additional points and labels added. 12 25. KEYPOINTS AND SOURCES USED FOR: PHOTO: CHURCH: By Les Floeter, Jun 2005. NORDBERG CHURCH – Skjåk Kommune 1. Built in 1864. - 8b DESCRIPTION SOURCES: 2. Octagonal church. - 8a 8a. Notes from guide Ola Brenna’s comments at 3. Many of the people were Haugians, after Hans Nielsen Nordberg during 2005 tour. Hauge, a Norwegian lay minister who led a “Pietism revival” 8b. www.visitnorway.com dated 1/13/09. reform movement. - 8a 4. Excellent acoustics, today people come from afar for con- certs. - 8a 26. NORDBERG CHURCH INTERIOR PHOTOS: Altar photo by Jan Floeter, Jun 2005. Arch/Altar photo by Jan Floeter, Jun 2005. Pulpit photo by Jan Floeter, Jun 2005. Ceiling/Chandelier photo by Jan Floeter, Jun 2005. 13 27. KEYPOINTS AND SOURCES USED FOR: DESCRIPTION SOURCES: 7a. www.visitorway.com dated 1/13/09. SKJÅK CHURCH – Skjåk Kommune 7b. Email from Gudbrand Skjaak dated 2/2/09 . 1. Built in 1752, - 7a, 7b 7c. Conversation with Turid ___ , Norwegian immi- 2. Cruciform church. - 7a grant at 2008 Stevne. 3. Logs cut in forest, measured to size, then moved to site. - 7d. Skjåk Bygdebok: Bind 2, Skjåk Church, p. 308. 7c, 7d 4. Jakob Klukstad carved the altar piece and pulpit. - 7a PHOTO: CHURCH: By Johanna Hocker, scanned 2009. 28. SKJÅK CHURCH INTERIOR PHOTOS: Pulpit photo by Kristin King, Aug 2012. Interior photo by Kristin King, Aug 2012.