Trondenes Church

Historie

Trondenes Church is the northernmost medieval stone church of Norway. It is a parish church in the municipality of Harstad in Troms county, Norway. It is located in the village of Trondenes. The church is part of the Trondenes parish in the Trondenes deanery in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.
Though frequently mentioned as a 13th-century church, dating based on dendrochronology places its completion shortly after 1434. Compared to the other ten north Norwegian Medieval stone churches, Trondenes church is well preserved and the exterior is close to the original state. The nave is 22.6 metres long and the chancel is 13.5 metres, making it one of the largest medieval churches of rural Norway. In the late Medieval period, Trondenes served as the main church centre of Northern Norway.
The church is especially known for its rich decorations, including three gothic triptychs, one of which is made by the German Hanseatic artist Bernt Notke. The baroque pulpit is equipped with an hourglass to allow the minister to time long sermons. The organ dates from the late 18th century. In the choir section, one can see remnants of medieval frescoes.