Gjerde Church

Historie

Gjerde Church is a parish church in Etne municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Etnesjøen, just south of the village centre. The church is part of the Etne parish in the Sunnhordland deanery in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.HistoryThe church at Gjerde in Etnesjøen is first mentioned in historical records in 1288, but it was built some time before that. That church was most likely a stave church that was in use until 1673 when it was badly damaged in a storm and it was torn down. Instead of rebuilding, the parish purchased another church that was moved here from Sandviken in Bergen. The new church was completed in 1676 and has been in use since that time. This white, wooden church seats about 250 people. The church bell dates back to 1315. The bell is inscribed (in Norwegian): "Jakob made me 1315. Pastor Erling had me made."