St. Mary's Church | |
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Mariakirken | |
![]() View of the church | |
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60°23′56″N5°19′24″E / 60.39890614318°N 5.32334804534°E Coordinates: 60°23′56″N5°19′24″E / 60.39890614318°N 5.32334804534°E | |
Location | Bergen, Vestland |
Country | Norway |
Denomination | Church of Norway |
Previous denomination | Catholic Church |
Churchmanship | Evangelical Lutheran |
History | |
Status | Parish church |
Founded | 11th century |
Consecrated | 11th century |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Architectural type | Long church |
Style | Romanesque and Gothic |
Completed | c. 1180 |
Specifications | |
Capacity | 240 |
Materials | Stone |
Administration | |
Parish | Bergen domkirke |
Deanery | Bergen domprosti |
Diocese | Bjørgvin bispedømme |
Type | Church |
Status | Automatically protected |
ID | 84395 |
St Mary's Church (Norwegian : Mariakyrkja, Mariakirken) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Bergen Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the Bryggen area in the central part of the city of Bergen. It is one of the churches for the Bergen Cathedral parish which is part of the Bergen domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The large, gray stone church was built in a long church design using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 240 people. The construction of the church is believed to have started in the 1130s or 1140s and completed around 1180, making this church the oldest remaining building in the whole city of Bergen. There have been a few fires that burned the church, as well as several renovations and reconstructions, most recently in 2013. [1] [2] [3]
St. Mary's Church is the only remaining of the twelve churches and three monasteries that were built in Bergen between its beginnings during the reign of Olav Kyrre (1066–1093, traditionally 1070) and the end of the twelfth century. Excavations have revealed the remains of an earlier stone church on the site, but it was probably never completed. Commissioned jointly by the king and the citizens and merchants of Bergen, the construction of St. Mary's Church began in the 1130s or 1140s. The exact year of completion is unknown, but the church is mentioned in Sverris saga as where the rebels of the Birkebein Party sought refuge when attacked by a peasant army in 1183. St. Mary's Church is likely to have been built by craftsmen from Scania, then part of Denmark. The church's style is reminiscent of that of Lund Cathedral in Scania. [4]
St. Mary's Church was significantly damaged in the town fire of 1198, caused by an attack on the city by the Bagli Party, enemies of the Birkebein Party. The rebuilding resulted in several architectural changes. Bergen burned again in 1248, in a fire which caused an even greater degree of destruction to the church than the earlier fire. As part of the reconstruction after this fire, the towers were heightened and the chancel lengthened. The church was damaged in several later town fires, but never again destroyed to the same degree as in the fire of 1248. [5]
Although having been built as a parish church for the Norwegian population of Bergen, St. Mary's Church was taken over by the city's large German population in 1408 after which it was popularly called "the German church" (Tyskekirken). The merchants of the Hanseatic League were centered on this part of the town. [6] By belonging to the wealthy Germans, St. Mary's is richly adorned and escaped the fate of being turned into a ruin, unlike several of the other churches in the city. [5] It was not until 1874, long after the German domination in the city had vanished, did it again become an ordinary parish church, even though sermons were held in German until after the First World War. [6]
In 1814, this church served as an election church (Norwegian : valgkirke). [7] [8] Together with more than 300 other parish churches across Norway, it was a polling station for elections to the 1814 Norwegian Constituent Assembly which wrote the Constitution of Norway. This was Norway's first national elections. Each church parish was a constituency that elected people called "electors" who later met together in each county to elect the representatives for the assembly that was to meet in Eidsvoll later that year. [7] [9]
From 1863 until 1876, the architect Christian Christie (who would later supervise the restorations of Bergen Cathedral and the Haakon's Hall) oversaw a major restoration of the church. [10] The church was again closed from January 2010 until 2015 for another major restoration work. Since then the church was made available to the Bergen Anglican Church, offering English language services for residents and tourists. [11]
St Mary's Church is a two-towered, three-naved, mainly Romanesque-style church. The eastern part of the choir shows some Gothic influence reminiscent of the Haakon's Hall, likely caused by the reconstruction after the 1248 fire. The church is constructed mainly in soapstone, the oldest parts being built of the highest quality soapstone. Shale is used sporadically. At least three different types of soapstone is used, and it is likely that the stone comes from several different quarries in the region. [4]
Stavanger Cathedral is Norway's oldest cathedral and the seat of the Bishop of Stavanger who leads the Diocese of Stavanger in the Church of Norway. It is located in the centre of the city of Stavanger which lies in the southwestern part of the large Stavanger Municipality in central Rogaland county, Norway. The church is situated in the centre of the city, in the borough of Storhaug between Breiavatnet in the south, the square with Vågen in the north west, the cathedral square in the north, and Kongsgård in the southwest.
Holy Cross Church is a special parish church in Bergen municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is situated in the centre of the city of Bergen, just east of the head of the Vågen bay. The church is located at the intersection of the streets Kong Oscars gate and Nedre Korskirkeallmenning. It is one of the churches for the Bergen domprosti parish which is part of the Bergen domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The large stone church was built in a cruciform design around the year 1150 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 600 people.
Bergen Cathedral is a cathedral in the city of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. It is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Bjørgvin as well as the seat of the "Bergen domkirke" parish and the seat of the Bergen domprosti (arch-deanery). It is part of the Church of Norway. The first recorded historical reference to this church is dated 1181. It retains its ancient dedication to Saint Olaf. The cathedral seats about 900 people.
St. John's Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Bergen Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the Sydnes area of the city of Bergen. It is one of the five churches for the Bergen Cathedral parish which is part of the Bergen domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The red brick church was built in a cruciform design between 1891 and 1894 in the Gothic Revival style. The architect was Herman Backer. The church seats about 1250 people, making it the largest church in Bergen. It was consecrated on 15 March 1894.
Nykirken is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Bergen Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the Nordnes area of the city of Bergen. It is one of the churches for the Bergen Cathedral parish which is part of the Bergen domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Ulvik Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Samnanger Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Ulvik. It is the church for the Ulvik parish which is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1859 using plans drawn up by the architect Hans Linstow. The church seats about 500 people.
Vår Frue Church is a medieval parish church of the Church of Norway in Trondheim municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the downtown Midtbyen area of the city of Trondheim, just a few blocks north of the Nidaros Cathedral. It is one of the two churches for the Nidaros og Vår Frue parish which is part of the Nidaros domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros. The gray, stone church was built in a long church design in the late 1100s using plans drawn up by Bjørn Sigvardsson. The church seats about 540 people.
St George's Church, Bergen is a historic church of the Church of Norway in Bergen Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. This is also the site of the Leprosy Museum. Although it is no longer regularly used, it is one of the churches in the Bergen domprosti parish which is part of the Bergen domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The green, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1706 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 125 people.
Vereide Church is a medieval parish church of the Church of Norway in Gloppen Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is the only stone church in the Nordfjord region. It is located in the village of Vereide, along the eastern coast of the Gloppefjorden. It is one of the four churches for the Gloppen parish which is part of the Nordfjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, stone church was built in a long church style in the 12th century by an unknown architect. The church seats about 460 people.
Kinn Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kinn Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located on the small island of Kinn. It is one of two churches for the Kinn parish which is part of the Sunnfjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, stone church was built in a long church design in the middle of the 12th century using plans drawn up by an unknown architect.
Dale Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Luster Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Luster on the western shore of the Lustrafjorden. It is the church for the Dale parish which is part of the Sogn prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The red and white, stone church was built in a long church design around the year 1240 using designs by an unknown architect. The church seats about 200 people.
Vangen Church is the main parish church in Aurland Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Aurlandsvangen, at the end of the Aurlandsfjorden. It is the church for the Vangen parish which is part of the Sogn prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, stone church was built in a long church design and in early Gothic style around the year 1202. The church seats about 270 people.
Lindås Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Alver Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Lindås. It is one of the three churches for the Lindås parish which is part of the Nordhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden, neo-gothic church was built in a long church design in 1865 using plans drawn up by the architect Ole Syslak. The church seats about 370 people.
Manger Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Alver Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Manger on the island of Radøy. It is one of the four churches in the Radøy parish which is part of the Nordhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden church was built in a long church style in 1891 using designs by the architect Hans Heinrich Jess who was from Bergen. The church seats about 440 people.
Hamre Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Osterøy Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Hamre. It is the church for the Hamre parish which is part of the Åsane prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The wooden church was built in a long church design in the late 1500s using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 350 people.
Haus Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Osterøy Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Hausvik on the western shore of the island of Osterøy. It is the church for the Haus parish which is part of the Åsane prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden church was built in a long church design in 1874 using plans drawn up by the architect Ole Vangberg. The church seats about 460 people.
Stamnes Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Vaksdal Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Stamneshella. It is the church for the Stamnes parish which is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden church was built in a long church design in 1861 using plans drawn up by the architects Peter Høier Holtermann and Jacob Wilhelm Nordan. The church seats about 250 people.
Ullensvang Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Ullensvang Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Lofthus. It is the church for the Ullensvang parish which is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The large stone church was built in a long church design around the year 1250 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 350 people.
Strusshamn Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Askøy Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Strusshamn. It is the church for the Strusshamn parish which is part of the Vesthordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The large concrete and glass church was built in a fan-shaped design in 1969 using plans drawn up by the architects Torgeir Alvsaker and Einar Vaardal-Lunde. The church seats about 500 people.
Sund Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Øygarden Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Klokkarvik. It is the church for the Sund parish which is part of the Vesthordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white concrete and wood church was built in a fan-shaped design in 1997 using plans drawn up by the architect Peder A. Ristesund. The church seats about 350 people.
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