The churches in Grimstad

Grimstad Church

Grimstad Church was built in 1880, and with its 1150 seats, is one of the largest wooden churches in Norway. The church is located on the hill called "Kirkeheia" with a beautiful view of the port and the archipelago. Originnaly, a smaller church of 500 seats was built on the same ground in 1849, but due to it being too small, it was decided a new and bigger church should be built. The old church was moved to Engene to make room for the new one - the church standing there today.

"Kirkeheia" has one of Grimstad's most beautiful park facilities and a fantastic view of the town. On this hill you will find salute cannons, an old stone grave from Bringsvær and a memorial of the fallen men from World War II, made by Kyllingstad - "Mother Norway sends her sons out".

Here's a short 360-film of Grimstad Church

Landvik Church

"All roads lead to Landvik Church". Or, at least it might seem like it. The church is located in the middle of an intersection where several of the local roads meet and cross each other. It is said that the location is an old church site originating as far back as to the Middle Ages.

Landvik church was originally an old stone church from around 1150-1250. The church was rebuilt several times in an attempt to make it bigger. But in 1823 the church was torn down in order to build a new church that could seat more people - the wooden church you see today. The remains of the stone church were re-used in the construction of the new church and the fence surrounding the site - a great way to preserve a piece of Grimstad's history.

The church can seat around 400 people.

Eide Church

Eide Church was built of timber in 1795, but wasn't considered complete until 1806. The church has the shape of a cross and seats around 300 people. The inside is painted by Guttorm Person Efterstøl (1779-1856), who is first and foremost known for the traditional Norwegian floral painting called "rosemaling", and for his beautiful woodcarvings. Efterstøl has painted the four evangelists on the pulpit. The church has been painted several times after this.

During the 1970's, the church went through extensive restorations, and was painted back in its original colour splendor. During the restoration of the church in 1975, the floor was lifted and materials, which idicates that the church originally had been an old medieval stave church from around 1340, were found. Large oak beams, over 8m long and 40 cm tall, show signs of being used as joists in a previous stave church.The materials are now on display at the Aust-Agder museum. The stave church was most likely torn down and replaced at some point during the 1600s, but no one knows for sure. The church that replaced the medieval building was demolished in 1795 to make room for the current church. The painted panels that decorated the old church were saved and are now on display in the church porch.

Check out this link for 360-movie of Eide Kirke.

Fjære Church

Fjære Church is an impressive stone building dating back to medieval times (1150) and is located 3km north of Grimstad. There are many interesting discoveries tied to the church and the area; a number of burial sites, cultural monuments and stone formations, among others. Fjære church is one of Norway's best preserved stone churches from the Middle Ages.

The church altar is made of stone from before year 1000, and is most likely from the first church that was built on the ground. The baptismal font is of High Gothic style from a time right before year 1300. The altarpiece, the lectern and the pew, from a time between 1500 and 1700, are considered highly valuable. The church can seat around 450 people. Despite its 850 year long existence, the church is still very active today. The church developed together with the village and the people, and became the pillar of Fjære's historical line, from the Middle Ages to our own time today.

A connection between Henrik Ibsen's poem "Terje Vigen" and Fjære church has also been found. The poem tells the story of a courageous man who rowed across the open sea to Denmark, hoping to return with food supply for his starving family. The story is set during the years surrounding 1809, when the Napoleonic wars were raging in Europe. During this time, Norway was ruled by Denmark who where fighting on Napoelon's side. All transport between Denmark and Norway was blocked by English warships which made life very hard for those living along the coast of southern Norway. Altough this poem is considered fictional, historical documents can confirm that many men actually attempted to row all the way to Denmark, some suceeded and some were captured and imprisoned in England. There has been found proof of a man called Terje Vigen living on the shores as described in Henrik Ibsen's poem. According to the poem, Terje Vigen was burried at Fjære church, and a grave stone with the name 'Thærie Wiighen' was actually found in the area and can still be seen today.

In Fjære churchyard I saw a plot,

that lay in a weathered sward;

it looked all neglected, a mean sunken spot,

but kept still its blackened board.

It read 'Thærie Wiighen' in white, the date

his final repose had been.

He lay to the sun and the winds' keen weight,

and that's why the grass was so stubborn-straight,

but with wild field-flowers between.

It is not known whether the poem is based on a true story or on the many myths and tales that existed at the time, but one thing is for sure, the creation of this epic poem helped immortalize the many brave men and families who suffered during this time in Norway.