St. Olav's Church (ruin)

St. Olav's Church (Norwegian: Olavskirken) are a ruins in the municipality of Bamble in Vestfold og Telemark, Norway. [1]

Ruin of Skeidi church, a medieval church dedicated to St. Olav, inaugurated ca. 1150
Maria Chapel in St. Olav's Church ruins

The church ruins are located by the E18 which passes through Bamble. The ruins are situated northeast of the newer Bamble Church (Bamble kirke) which was completed during 1845. Bamble Church was constructed in part with stone from the ruins.[2][3]

History

St. Olav's Church was built of stone before 1150 in Romanesque-Norman style inspired by English Norman architecture. It was dedicated to St. Olaf, patron saint of Norway and served as a center for the veneration of St. Olaf by the nearby Gimsøy Abbey. The church was probably about four feet longer than the ruins suggests. In that case, it would have been the largest stone church in Telemark during that period. It had a number of unusual building features, including a chancel screen (lektorium).

After Protestant Reformation, the church was re-named Skeidi Church (Skeidis kirkja i Bamblum). Until 1738, Skeidi parish comprised Sannidal, Skåtøy, Kragerø and Bamble. Probably the church was the main church within the district of Grenland and therefore had the highest status of all churches in the area.[4]

A separate small room, which today is called Maria's Chapel (Mariakapellet), was consecrated by Halvor Bergan (1931-2015) Bishop of the Diocese of Agder. Since 1998 it has been heated, lighted and open to the public all year round. [5][6]

  • St. Olav's Church ruins main portal, with double chevron arch and columns
  • St. Olav's Church cemetery
  • Outer wall at St. Olav's Church ruins
  • St. Olav's Church ruins

References
  1. "Bamble kirkeruin". Kulturminnesøk. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  2. "Bamble kirke". lokalhistoriewiki.no. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  3. "Bamble kirke". Den Norske Kirke. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  4. Olavskirken – Skeidi kirke i Bamble (miklaborg.net)
  5. Messe i Olavskirken ruin i Bamble (Vår Frue Kirke)
  6. Hallgeir Elstad. "Halvor Bergan". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved September 1, 2017.

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