Møkster Church

Historie

Møkster Church is a parish church in Austevoll municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Kvalvåg on the island of Stolmen, although historically it was located on the small island of Møkster, hence the name. The church is part of the Austevoll parish in the Fana deanery in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden church was built in 1892 and it seats about 320 people.HistoryThe original Møkster Church was a medieval stave church on the island of Møkster in the central part of the Austevoll archipelago. That church was demolished in 1686 and a new church was built on the same site. The church was owned by the Church of Norway until 1724 when it was sold to Bent Uldrich for 70 rigsdaler. In 1860, the parish raised money and bought back the church for 5,755 speciedaler.In 1892, it was decided to move the church to the nearby island of Stolmen, so the old church was torn down. The old cemetery on Møkster island is still located on the old church site. The new church was built by builder Mos Skare from Alversund and the architect Hans Jess from Bergen. The church was consecrated on 29 June 1892. Four stained glass windows from the 1686 church were saved and used in the present church on Stolmen.