Ålhus Church

Ålhus Church (Norwegian: Ålhus kyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Sunnfjord Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Ålhus on the northern shore of the lake Jølstravatnet. It is one of two churches for the Ålhus parish which is part of the Sunnfjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden church was built in a long church style in 1795 by the architect Gunder Gregoriussen Støfringshaug. The church seats about 168 people.[1][2]

Ålhus Church
Ålhus kyrkje
View of the church
Ålhus Church
Location of the church
Ålhus Church
Ålhus Church (Norway)
61.5308°N 6.2341°E / 61.5308; 6.2341
LocationSunnfjord Municipality,
Vestland
CountryNorway
DenominationChurch of Norway
ChurchmanshipEvangelical Lutheran
History
StatusParish church
Founded13th century
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)G.G. Støfringshaug
Architectural typeLong church
Completed1795
Specifications
Capacity168
MaterialsWood
Administration
ParishÅlhus
DeanerySunnfjord prosti
DioceseBjørgvin

History

The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to the year 1322, but the church was not new at that time. The medieval stave church was likely built during the 13th century. In 1660, a tower was constructed on the west end of the church. In 1795, most of the old church was torn down and a new church was rebuilt on the same spot. A newer portion of the old church was not torn down, but instead it was used as the choir of the new church. The new church was designed by the architect Gunder Gregoriussen Støfringshaug. The architect also incorporated a door from the old church in the new church. The old door dates back to the 12th or 13th century. It is said that the door originally came from a castle that belonged to Audun Hugleiksson. The church was restored in 1868 and again between 1947 and 1951.[3][4]

  • View of the church from 1926
  • View of the church
  • The old door from the castle

See also

References
  1. "Ålhus kyrkje". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  2. "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  3. "Ålhus Church". Fylkesarkivet. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  4. "Ålhus kyrkjestad - Jølster kyrkjestad" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
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