Gamlebyen Church

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Gamlebyen Church
Gamlebyen kirke
Gmbkrk3.JPG
Location map Norway Oslo.png
Red pog.svg
Gamlebyen Church
Norway location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Gamlebyen Church
59°54′11.07″N10°46′3.94″E / 59.9030750°N 10.7677611°E / 59.9030750; 10.7677611
LocationEkebergveien 1,
Old Town, Oslo,
Country Norway
Denomination Owned by: Oslo University Hospital
Leased by
Den norske kirkes vapen.svg Church of Norway
Churchmanship Evangelical Lutheran
Website https://kirken.no/gamlebyenoggronland
History
Former name(s)Oslo Church
Oslo Hospital's Church
Founded1290
Consecrated 1939
Architecture
Completed1796
Specifications
Materials Brick and stone
Administration
Diocese Diocese of Oslo
Parish Gamlebyen og Grønland Parish 01.01.2013

Gamlebyen Church is a private church, belonging to Oslo University Hospital and is also called Oslo Hospital's Church, located in the old town [1] of Oslo, Norway. It is leased to the Diocese of Oslo of the Church of Norway and serves as the parish church for the Gamlebyen parish in Oslo. Up to 1925 it had the name Oslo Church, but when the city changed its name from Kristiania to Oslo, the church got the present name. The present church building is listed in 1796 partly on the foundations of the Franciscan monastery church built around 1290. [2] [3] The church is located at the foot of the north-facing slope Ekeberg, across the street from the Gamlebyen Cemetery. [4] The chapel at the cemetery is abandoned as a burial chapel and leased to the Ethiopian community in Oslo. At funerals, the church itself is now used instead.

Contents

History

View of Christiania (Oslo) 1800, with the Old Town and Gamlebyen Church nearest, from Boydell's picturesque scenery of Norway by John William Edy City of Christiania (JW Edy plate 49).jpg
View of Christiania (Oslo) 1800, with the Old Town and Gamlebyen Church nearest, from Boydell's picturesque scenery of Norway by John William Edy

The abbey Church which was built towards the end of the 1200s, was one of Oslo's earliest buildings constructed of brick which came from Duke Hakon's brickworks on the banks of the Alna River.

After the Protestant Reformation in 1536 the church was converted into a hospital. [5]

In 1567, during the Swedish attack, the first church was destroyed. On the ruins of the abbey, the building was divided into several floors and served thereafter as a hospital building with a church on the first floor. The house now known as the "stone building" was added later. This is regarded today as the oldest hospital building. During the 1700s there were also several buildings, including "Dollhuset" for psychiatric patients.

Gamlebyen Church and the "stone building" from 1737 as seen from the south Gmlbyenkrk1.JPG
Gamlebyen Church and the "stone building" from 1737 as seen from the south

In 1734, a new church was built on the foundations of the nave. After the last fire on 13 January 1794 the church was rebuilt in Louis XVI style two years later, again in brick. The old medieval choir was demolished and replaced with a tower that stands there today. The newly built church was opened on 11 May 1796. In the 1800s the church was rebuilt several times. In the period 1934–1939, it was renovated by architect William K. Essendrop, reestablishing its earlier appearance. The flat murtaket was replaced with an arched vault, and a new sacristy was built. The church was reopened on Christmas Eve 1939, in the presence of King Haakon VII. [6]

Today's church

The church has seating for just 200 people. It is one of the oldest churches in Oslo that is still in use. The main building is from 1796. The Stone Building is from 1737. [7] In 1880, seating was added and changes were made to the altar and pulpit. From 1934 to 1939, extensive restoration reestablished the look of 1796. The pulpit from 1880 hangs above the altar but is not in use. [8]

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References

  1. Gamlebyen (Oslo) on http://lokalhistoriewiki.no in Norwegian
  2. Franciscan Abbey Churches in Oslo in Norwegian
  3. http://snl.no/Fransiskanerklosteret_i_Oslo Franciscan Abbey in Oslo], Store Norske Leksikon in Norwegian
  4. Gamlebyen gravlund Gravferdsetaten (The Cemetery Administration) City of Oslo (in Norwegian)
  5. Gamlebyen Church at www.visitoslo.com
  6. www.emblemsvaag.no about Gamlebye Church in Norwegian
  7. Oslo Hospital, Church page by Oslo University in Norwegian
  8. Kirkebøe, M.C.; Oslos kirker i gammel og ny tid New edition by K.A. Tvedt and Ø. Reisegg Oslo 2007 ISBN   82-573-1946-5, in Norwegian