Trinity Church | |
---|---|
Trefoldighetskirken | |
58°27′33″N8°45′57″E / 58.459215°N 08.765762°E | |
Location | Arendal Municipality, Agder |
Country | Norway |
Denomination | Church of Norway |
Churchmanship | Evangelical Lutheran |
History | |
Status | Parish church |
Founded | 1670 |
Consecrated | 29 June 1888 |
Events | 1902: Fire |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Architect(s) | Christian Fürst |
Architectural type | Long church |
Style | Neo-Gothic |
Completed | 1888 |
Specifications | |
Capacity | 850 |
Materials | Brick |
Administration | |
Diocese | Agder og Telemark |
Deanery | Arendal prosti |
Parish | Trefoldighet |
Type | Church |
Status | Listed |
ID | 83790 |
Trinity Church (Norwegian : Trefoldighetskirken) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Arendal Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the central part of the town of Arendal. It is the church for the Trefoldighet parish. It is also the seat of the Arendal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The red, brick, neo-Gothic church was built in a cruciform basilica design in 1888 using plans drawn up by the architect Christian Fürst. The church seats about 850 people. [1] [2]
There have been three churches in the town of Arendal, and all of them were called "Trinity Church" (Norwegian : Trefoldighetskirken). In 1669, the new little town called Arendal received permission to build its own church. The first church was built in 1670 out of timber and in an east–west direction, just west of the current site of the church. It was consecrated on 6 December 1670. The eastern section was divided into two wings, giving it a Y-shape (one of only 10 churches in Norway with that design). One wing had was the altar and the king's chair, the other an organ. The pulpit was placed where the wings meet. In 1714, a gray stone tower was added to the north wing. [3]
In 1814, this church served as an election church (Norwegian : valgkirke). [4] 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. [4] [5]
The church eventually became too small for the town and congregation and it also was in need of many repairs, so it was demolished in 1832 to make room for the new church. [3]
After tearing down the old church, a new church was constructed on the same site. This new church was designed by Christian H. Grosch and it had an octagonal design with 555 seats. The tower from the old church was retained and incorporated into the new church. The foundation stone was laid down in 1833 by Crown Prince Oscar (later, he became the king of Sweden and Norway). The church, which was completed in 1835, had no altar, but a large gypsum replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen's famous Christ sculpture. The new building was consecrated on 23 March 1836.
In 1880, when Arendal was at its height as a town based on shipping, it was decided to build a new, much larger church. An architectural competition was then announced to design the church. The competition was won by the 27-year-old architect Christian Fürst, who was a student of the German architect Johannes Otzen. The foundation stone was laid down on 7 August 1885 in a large ceremony. This Trinity Church is built of brick. The new church was consecrate on 29 June 1888 by the Bishop Jacob Sverdrup Smitt. [6] The church has 1,200 seats and at that time was the largest church in Aust-Agder county. Following today's modern fire codes, the church can hold about 850 people. [3]
The roof is covered with copper plates. The influence of Otzen is also seen in the use of materials, a brick stone type with smooth surface. The church has three church bells in addition to a carillon. The altarpiece scene is "Jesus blesses the eleven apostles before his ascension." The altarpiece was painted by August Eiebakke.
During the night of 12–13 January 1902, the church had a fire, but the damage was not very extensive and the church was repaired. In 1909, scaffolding was set up around the whole exterior to clean and replace the fire damaged bricks. [3]
Trinity Church is located in a sloping terrain in the town of Arendal. To improve the church's surroundings, a bazaar was built around the church into the street shortly after the church was built. The church bazaar is a plaza surrounded by a brick wall with round arches. It is the only church bazaar in Norway that was designed and built simultaneously with the church. [7] [8]
Mandal Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Lindesnes Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the town of Mandal. It is one of the two churches for the Mandal parish which is part of the Lister og Mandal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a long church design in 1821 using plans drawn up by the architect Jørgen Gerhard Løser. It was designed in an empire/neoclassical style. The church seats about 1,000 people, making it the largest wooden church in Norway.
Gjerpen Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Skien Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the town of Skien. It is one of the churches for the Gjerpen parish which is part of the Skien prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The tan, stone church was built in a cruciform design around the year 1153 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 485 people.
Lyngdal Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Lyngdal Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the town of Lyngdal. It is one of the churches for the Lyngdal parish which is part of the Lister og Mandal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1848 using plans drawn up by the local parish priest Gabriel Kirsebom Kielland who modified standardized church plans by the famous church architect Hans Linstow. The church seats about 800 people, making it one of the largest churches in Southern Norway.
Holum Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Lindesnes Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Krossen. It is the church for the Holum parish which is part of the Lister og Mandal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1825 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 480 people.
Øvrebø Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Vennesla Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Øvrebø, a short distance west of the village of Skarpengland. It is the church for the Øvrebø parish which is part of the Otredal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1800 using plans drawn up an unknown architect. The church seats about 300 people.
Søm Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the district of Søm in the borough of Oddernes in the city of Kristiansand. It is one of the churches for the Randesund parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The red brick church was built in a fan-shaped design in 2004 using plans drawn up by the architects Arild Lauvland and Arne Åmland. The church seats about 450 people, but it can be expanded to seat up to about 650 people.
Tveit Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kristiansand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located on the banks of the Tovdalselva, just outside the village of Ryen in the district of Tveit in the borough of Oddernes in the northeastern part of the city of Kristiansand. It is the church for the Tveit parish which is part of the Kristiansand domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, stone church was built in a long church design around the year 1150 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 350 people. The church is surrounded by a cemetery. The historic structure is protected by law.
Bygland Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Bygland Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Bygland on the eastern shore of the Byglandsfjorden, just alongside the Norwegian National Road 9. It is one of the churches for the Bygland og Årdal parish which is part of the Otredal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1838 by the builder Anders Thorsen Syrtveit who used plans drawn up by the famous architect Hans Linstow. The church seats about 250 people.
Evje Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Evje og Hornnes Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located at the north end of the village of Evje. It is one of the churches for the Evje og Hornnes parish which is part of the Otredal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a Swiss chalet style with a cruciform design in 1891 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 450 people.
Vestre Moland Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Lillesand Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Møglestu, just outside the town of Lillesand. It is one of the churches for the Lillesand parish which is part of the Vest-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, stone church was built in a long church design around the year 1150 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect, but has since been converted into a cruciform design. The church seats about 350 people.
Øyestad Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Arendal Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Rykene, on the north side of the river Nidelva. It is one of the churches for the Øyestad parish which is part of the Arendal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, stone church was built in a long church, gothic design around the year 1200 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The main body of the church is whitewashed stone, but the main entrance and tower are wooden and painted red. The church seats about 250 people.
Åmli Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Åmli Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Åmli. It is one of the churches for the Åmli parish which is part of the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden, neo-Gothic church was built in a long church design in 1909 using plans drawn up by the architect Ludvig Karlsen. The church seats about 450 people.
Søndeled Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Risør Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Søndeled. It is the church for the Søndeled parish which is part of the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, stone and wood church was built in a cruciform design around the year 1150 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 450 people.
Risør Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Risør Municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the town of Risør. It is one of the two churches for the Risør parish which is part of the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a cruciform design in 1647 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 450 people.
Old Bø Church is a former parish church of the Church of Norway in Midt-Telemark Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the village of Bø. It used to be the main church for the Bø parish which is part of the Øvre Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, stone church was built in a long church design around the year 1179 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 150 people. This church was closed in 1875 when the new Bø Church was opened. This church is now preserved as a museum.
Sauherad Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Midt-Telemark Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the village of Sauherad. It is one of the churches for the Nes og Sauherad parish which is part of the Øvre Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, stone church was built in a long church design around 1150 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 260 people.
Holla Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Nome Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the village of Ulefoss. It is one of the churches for the Holla og Helgen parish which is part of the Øvre Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The red, brick church was built in a long church design in 1867 using plans drawn up by the architect Peter Høier Holtermann. The church seats about 360 people.
Atrå Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Tinn Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the village of Atrå. It is one of the churches for the Tinn parish which is part of the Øvre Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a long church design in 1836 using plans drawn up by the architect Hans Linstow. The church seats about 300 people.
Mo Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Tokke Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the village of Mo. It is one of the churches for the Eidsborg, Mo, og Skafså parish which is part of the Øvre Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a long church design in 1839 using plans drawn up by the architect Hans Linstow. The church seats about 132 people.
Eidanger Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Porsgrunn Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the village of Eidanger. It is one of the churches for the Eidanger parish which is part of the Skien prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, stone church was built in a long church design around the year 1150 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 200 people.