The Trinity Church in Arendal

The trinity church is the third church on this site. The first church, a Y-shaped wooden structure, was erected in 1670. A desire to assert the town's status over Kristiansand was probably the motive behind its construction. In the 1830s, the town's shipping industry flourished, the population grew and the church became too small and was therefore demolished in 1832.

In 1833, Crown Prince Oscar (Oscar I) laid the foundation stone for an octagonal church. Over the next 50 years, the population of Arendal doubled. According to church law, a church had to have seating which corresponded to the population of the parish, so a new church again had to be built.

In 1888, the third church was completed, in spite of the financial collapse of the banks in 1886. It towers above the Arendal skyline with its 87-metre-high tower. The church was ravaged by fire in 1902, but the damage was fortunately not extensive. The large chandelier which now hangs in the church vestibule originates from the town's first church. Copperplate engravings from the 16th century can be seen near the baptismal font.

The new pipe organ was built by the German company Werkstätte für Orgelbau Mühleisen, and it has about 3900 pipes between 4 millimetres and 7 metres high. It is (November 2010) the fourth largest church pipe organ in Norway, with 59 voices and built in a German-Romantic style.

Opening hours Tue-Sat 11:30-15:30 during the summer season (approx. June 23 - August 16)