Farnes Church (Norwegian: Farnes kyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Årdal Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Øvre Årdal. It is the church for the Øvre Årdal parish which is part of the Sogn prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Farnes Church
Farnes kyrkje
View of the church
Map
61°18′37″N 7°48′04″E / 61.31031108119°N 7.8011748790°E / 61.31031108119; 7.8011748790
LocationÅrdal Municipality,
Vestland
CountryNorway
DenominationChurch of Norway
Previous denominationCatholic Church
ChurchmanshipEvangelical Lutheran
History
StatusParish church
Founded1970
Consecrated12 April 1970
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)Per Solemslie
Architectural typeCruciform
StyleModern
Completed1970 (54 years ago) (1970)
Specifications
Capacity648
MaterialsBrick
Administration
DioceseBjørgvin bispedømme
DeanerySogn prosti
ParishØvre Årdal
TypeChurch
StatusNot protected
ID84116

The large, red, brick church was built in a modern, cruciform design in 1970 using plans drawn up by the architect Per Solemslie from the architecture firm Arnstein Arneberg. The church seats about 648 people.[1][2]

History edit

Historically, the only church in Årdal was the old Årdal Church located in Årdalstangen. In 1867, the old stave church in Årdalstangen was going to be torn down, the local priest and the bishop both wanted a new replacement church to be built in the village of Øvre Årdal. The municipal council said no, and a new church was built in Årdalstangen.

After World War II, the growing community of Øvre Årdal continued to ask for their own church. A small building in Øvre Årdal began to be used as an interim church in 1954. Planning for a permanent church began in the 1960s. Originally, the designs were for a very traditional granite building with a tower and spire, but the final design was a much more modern, brick building.

The large modern church was designed with a 30-metre (98 ft) tall bell tower above the entrance. Construction began in June 1968. The church was consecrated on 12 April 1970 by the bishop Per Juvkam. When the new church opened, the Årdal parish was divided into two, with Årdal Church serving the southwest part of the municipality and this new church serving the northeastern part.[3][4][5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Farnes kyrkje". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Farnes kirke". Norges-Kirker.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  4. ^ Henden Aaraas, Margrethe; Vengen, Sigurd; Gjerde, Anders. "Farnes kyrkje" (in Norwegian). Fylkesarkivet. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  5. ^ Hoff, Anne Marte. "Farnes kyrkje" (in Norwegian). Norges Kirker. Retrieved 3 October 2021.