Avaldsnes Church

Historie

Avaldsnes Church is a parish church in Karmøy municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The medieval stone church is located in the village of Avaldsnes on the northern part of the island of Karmøy. The first church located here was likely built before the year 1024 on the site of a royal estate. The present stone church was built in 1250 and it seats about 400 people. The church is part of the Avaldsnes parish in the Karmøy deanery in the Diocese of Stavanger.HistoryBefore this church was constructed, there was a wooden church on the same site around the year 1024. That church is assumed to have been built by Olav Trygvason, and it is possible that the present stone church is built around this church originally.This church has been a landmark for seafarers passing through the Karmsundet strait for 750 years. King Håkon IV Håkonsson gave permission to build a church around the year 1250. It was not completed until nearly 1320, and was then the fourth largest in the country. The church was dedicated to St. Olav and received the status of "Royal Chapel". During the same period it became one of four "college-churches" (it appointed a council of theological and juridical scholars). Probably there was a group of four scholars and teachers in law and theology. There could be there was an octagonal house of stone in close proximity to the quire. Chapter Houses (Kapittelhus) were common for English cathedrals. This is assumed to have been referenced by clergyman and historical writer Peder Clausen Friis in 1599. Remaining walls were visible as late as 1840, but are now completely gone.