The S-AGA Churches


Acknowledgement:All photos are credited to Einar T. Endrerud and the Lands church descriptions are from excerpts from "Landings Across the Ocean", (Landings Laget of America, St.Paul, MN 1997).

Lands



Nordre Land

Gårder Kirke 1669-1769
Although this church no long exists parish registers record the use of this church, which you will find when researching. It was a 'gavekirke' meaning it was built and supported by the people who used it. It was a matter of convenience for the people. It was on the lands of Gårder farm in West Torpa. In 1769 the church was in such bad repair it was decided to build a new church elsewhere and that was at Lunde in West Torpa. There is a painting of Gårder church , now referred to as Ny-G Kinn: The first records where Kinn church in East Torpa is mentioned is from a document related to the sale of land dated 1337. The original church was an annex chapel under the Ringsaker church and probably a small stave church, dedicated to St. Michael. This church was remodeled several times after the reformation, with the last remodeling the disappearance of the stave church was complete in 1751. In 1817 the church was dismantled and sold. A new Kinn church was completed in 1956.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Haugner Chapel Nordsinni
The chapel is high above Nordsinni with a view of the whole area. Originally called Sinnen in the 1300's now called Nordsinni since the 1600's. The Nordsinni church stood here from the 1300's until it was moved down the mountain in the 1898. The Haugner Chapel replaces the Nordsinni Church in 1935. In the parish registers the church was written as Haugner and later Hogne. It is the original church that stood at this location. A family from Stutlien in Valdres also used this church in the early 1700's probably as it was closer in distance than Bruflat Kirke.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Kinn Kirke
The first records where Kinn church in East Torpa is mentioned is from a document related to the sale of land dated 1337. The original church was an annex chapel under the Ringsaker church and probably a small stave church, dedicated to St. Michael. This church was remodeled several times after the reformation, with the last remodeling the disappearance of the stave church was complete in 1751. In 1817 the church was dismantled and sold. A new Kinn church was completed in 1956.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Lunde Kirke
This is a 'cross church' built in 1767, replacing the Gårder church in West Torpa and was also a 'gavekirke'. It was called Tabor Kirke by the minister Nils Dorph but has always been known as the Lunde Kirke by the people. It has many decorative paintings by Peder Aadnes, as do most of the churches in Land. Until the restoration of this church in the 1950's there was a man's side and a woman's side. The farms had their own pew with doors to each one. The order of the seating from the chancel were Felde, Lunde, Gårder and Rud.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Nordsinni Kirke
As mentioned the Nordsinni Church was moved down the mountain to the present location in 1898. It is a 'cross church'. The first mention of the Haugner/Hogne or Nordsinni church was from 1311 but the church was most likely there from a much earlier time. A new church was built at the original location in 1758. The interior of the church is very decorative and ornate with carvings and paintings.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Vølstad Kirke
From community legend, this is the oldest church location in the parish and the land around this church was the first settled in Østsinni. The remains of a church foundation here is believed to be from the time of the introduction to Christianity. This current chapel was built and dedicated in 1959.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Østsinni Kirke
In early years this was known as the Gårder Church, which is sometimes confused with the Gårder Church in West Torpa. This church is a short distance north of Dokka. The current church was built in 1877 to replace the church originally built here. It is built upon the same grounds. Parts of the church, when it was rebuilt, went to the Olso University's Norwegian National Antiquities Museum. Some of the fixtures were from the 1200's. Some of the 700-800 year old timber was used in the new church. The minister's pulpit was retained and a Ruben's painting copied by Peder Aadnes hangs at the alter area.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Åmodt Kirke
This is an eight sided church with seating room for 700-800 people. It is at the most northern part of Torpa in Nordre Land, dedicated in 1823. The church was first painted red with white doors and windows but is now white since 1877.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Åsli Cemetery

Click the picture to see events associated with this place in the S-AGA database.


Søndre Land

Enger Kirke
A 'long church' located the furthest south of the Søndre Land churches. The building of the church was completed in 1875. Remodeling and restoration was completed in 1952..
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Fluberg Kirke
This is the oldest existing church in Land and was the main church for all of Land until 1866 when Søndre Land was divided and Nordre Land became a district. It was built of logs in 1703. An earlier church, the first a small stave church, had been built closer to Randsfjorden and mentioned in 1330, although built probably before 1200. This older first church closer to the lake had many paths worn to it and a landing for boats for summer use by the people to attend church. The alter painting was done in 1750 by Egert Munch who also decorated the minister's pulpit..
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Hov Kirke
A church at Hov is mentioned in 1300's. This 'cross church' is in the middle of the town of Hov. Originally this particular piece of land, about 900 years ago, was the site of a pagan church. A burial mound from the iron age is in the church yard still today. The architect was Sven Olsen Odnes, alter painting was done by Peder Aadnes in 1782. The detailed and intricately carved pulpit was done by Hans Larsen Skøyen born in 1748..
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Landåsbygda Chapel
This is the newest church in Søndre Land, built in 1965, however the alter painting dates from before 1700 and hung originally in the first Fluberg church. .
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Skute Kirke
This is a 'long church', the only church in Søndre Land on the west side of Randsfjorden built in 1915..
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Valdres



Etnedal

Bruflat Kirke
The present church at Bruflat, Etnedal was inaugrated in 1750 and moved to its present site in 1774. Before this church there was a timberlog church which probably was built in 1641, maybe not finished until 1662. The parson Peder Joakim Landt in Aurdal writes that in 1743 Bruflat church had no income, the church was maintained by the local inhabitants and built about 100 years earlier because of great difficulties for the increasing population (in 1743: 35 farmers) to bring their dead over the hill to Aurdal, especially in winter with much snow.
The first church in Etnedal is mentioned in the year 1327 as "ecclesia de Erthedal." The name Bruflat is mentioned in 1317 and the Bruflat parish is mentioned in 1401 and 1446. This first church must have been a stave church, since all other churches we know from the same time were stave churches. The smallest of the bells in the tower of Bruflat church today is dated to about the year 1200. We know that for a long time after the plague "The Black Death" in 1350 Etnedalen was completely deserted. During this time the stave church must have fallen down, although some sources indicate that the stave church or another church might have existed in 1552.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Nord-Etnedal Church

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Sør-Aurdal

Bagn Kirke
Reprinted with permission from the Budstikken, May 1983 1736 Bagn Church Rated Among Newer in Valdres. By Valdres standards the Bagn church is a new church, having served the community only two and one-half centuries! It was built in 1736 and was first painted with tar, like so many of the old churches, but in 1879 it was painted white. In the old churches the altar areas were always decorated with paintings and carvings. In the Bagn church there is an elevated bar (korskranke) separating the chancel from the nave. This bears the monogram of King Karl Johan, with a lion carrying a halbard on either side. 'This dates from the first half of the 1800's and was fashioned by Aslak Olsen Li. The altar piece at Bagn is apparently as old as the church; included in this are carvings of Christ, Moses, Aaron and John the Baptist.
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Begnadalen Church
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Hedalen Kirke
Excerpt from Wikipedia
The first reference to the church is in 1327. The original church was a much smaller single nave church built second half of 12th century. The west entrance remains from the original church. The front portal is one of the oldest, most richly ornamented and among the most beautiful in the whole country. It takes the form of three winged dragons, one on each side of the arch and pilasters of the entrance and one above, all elaborately intertwined in a tendril and leaf pattern.
The remodelling and expansion of original building into a cruciform church is believed to have been completed in 1699, although some sources claim 1738. Restoration work was done during 1902 under direction of Carl Berner. During the restoration work, the previous sacristy was replaced with a new choir, and the new parts were enclosed in an ambulatory. This was a small reconstruction to add a new ridge turret
Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Leirskogen Church
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Reinli
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Nord-Aurdal

Aurdal
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Skrautvål
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Strand
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Tingnes
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Ulnes
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Vang

Vang
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Høre (Hurum) Kirke
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Øye
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Vestre Slidre

Lomen
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Lomen Stave Church
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Røn Church
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Slidre Domen
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Øystre Slidre

Hegge Kirke
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Rogne Kirke
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Lidar Kirke
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.


Beitostølen Lyskapell
Excerpt from Wikipedia

Click the picture to see events associated with this church in the S-AGA database.