Berle Church
Encyclopedia
Berle church is a local church community center (arbeidskyrkje) in the village of Berle
in the municipality of Bremanger
, Sogn og Fjordane
county, Norway
. The church is a part of the Bremanger prestegjeld
in the Nordfjord deanery of the Diocese of Bjørgvin
.
The church, which can seat 210 persons, was consecrated on 3 July 1977 by the bishop
Thor With. The architect
Alf Apelseth from Ørsta
made the designs. In 1977, Berle became a chapel
district in the Rugsund sokn (sub-parish) of the Davik
parish. In 1981, Berle was transferred to the Bremanger
sub-parish of the Bremanger parish. On 1 October 1999, the sub-parish of Berle was established. At that time, Berle chapel became Berle church, the main church for the Berle sokn of the parish of Bremanger.
and the interior is designed in the same way. The chancel
is separated from the nave
by a simple, square altar rail. The room is light, marked by the white concrete walls and the pine-panelled slanted ceiling, with narrow windows on the sides. On the side of the main room there are partition walls to the smaller assembly room, but both rooms are used for the major church services. The small assembly room is normally used for various club activities, festive occasions, church coffees, funerals, as well as meetings of the church council. The kitchen is also used as a baptism
al vestry
, whereas the vicar
's vestry is located to the right of the chancel.
by the sea called Frøysjøen. It was built four years after a similar church was built at Nordsida in Stryn
. In the village of Berle
bygda people had worked almost as long as the people in the village of Blaksetbygda to get a church of their own. In the former case, however, it was not a discussion of location which slowed down the process, but rather the fact that other projects were given priority.
The unpredictable weather
conditions on the Frøysjøen make it easy to understand that people wanted to have their own church at Berle. For centuries they had gone to the church at Rugsund, and had experienced their fair share of dramatic episodes on their way to church. To make matters worse, it took close to four hours by boat and car to get to the church and back. The school
was the only house they could use for assemblies, but around 1900, more and more people agreed that it was time to start the process of getting their own church. Things improved a little when the village of Berle got their own graveyard
in 1893, next door to the present church site. The small chapel
by the graveyard was also a blessing, because people could congregate there before the coffin
s were lowered into the ground. Nevertheless, a church of their own was high on the list of the local population.
Around 1910, the Berle district applied to become a separate chapel
district, but the Rugsund sub-parish council put off dealing with the application, and eventually turned it down. But the inhabitants on the eastern side of Bremangerlandet
refused to give up. In 1911, they started raising money to build a church. Finally, in 1963, things started moving in the right direction when a special committee was appointed to work for a more targeted approach in the church cause. Bishop
Per Juvkam's visit to Berle was also an inspiration for their cause. Later on, he took the initiative to let the people of Berle use the same design for the church as the congregation at Kilsfjord
in Sunnmøre
had done for their church, a cooperation the village of Blaksetbygda later on joined in. The municipal council of Davik
was also in favour of these plans.
There was cause for optimism in the local community until the extensive changes in municipal borders that took place in 1965, when the part of Davik
municipality which included Berle was transferred to the municipality of Bremanger
. In the new and bigger municipality other things proved to be more important than building a church at Berle
. In 1975, the municipal council of Bremanger finally resolved to build the long-awaited chapel. Bishop Per Juvkam was also a very happy man when he returned to Berle on 21 May 1976 to lay the foundation stone for the chapel. The following year, on 3 July 1977, his successor, bishop Thor With, came to Berle to consecrate this modern church building.
Berle
Berle is a village on the west coast of Norway. It is located on the eastern coast of Bremangerlandet island in the municipality of Bremanger, Sogn og Fjordane county. The village lies along the Berlepollen fjord, about west of the cliff Hornelen. Berle is about a drive west from the village...
in the municipality of Bremanger
Bremanger
Bremanger is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Bremanger is the only municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, which is located in two districts. The north-eastern parts comprising Oldeide, Berle, Rugsund, Davik, Isane and Ålfoten is located in Nordfjord, while Bremanger, Kalvåg,...
, Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The church is a part of the Bremanger prestegjeld
Prestegjeld
A Prestegjeld is a geographic and administrative area of the Church of Norway roughly equivalent to a parish. A prestegjeld can consist of one or many congregations...
in the Nordfjord deanery of the Diocese of Bjørgvin
Diocese of Bjørgvin
Bjørgvin Diocese is a diocese in the Church of Norway. It covers churches located in the counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane. The cathedral city is Bergen. Bergen Cathedral, formerly the Church of Saint Olaf, serves as the seat of the presiding Bishop...
.
The church, which can seat 210 persons, was consecrated on 3 July 1977 by the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Thor With. The architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Alf Apelseth from Ørsta
Ørsta
is a village and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region of Western Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ørsta...
made the designs. In 1977, Berle became a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
district in the Rugsund sokn (sub-parish) of the Davik
Davik
Davik is a village and former municipality in the traditional district of Nordfjord in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The former municipality of Davik was located in parts of the present-day municipalities of Vågsøy, Bremanger, and Eid. The administrative center of the former municipality was...
parish. In 1981, Berle was transferred to the Bremanger
Bremanger
Bremanger is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Bremanger is the only municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, which is located in two districts. The north-eastern parts comprising Oldeide, Berle, Rugsund, Davik, Isane and Ålfoten is located in Nordfjord, while Bremanger, Kalvåg,...
sub-parish of the Bremanger parish. On 1 October 1999, the sub-parish of Berle was established. At that time, Berle chapel became Berle church, the main church for the Berle sokn of the parish of Bremanger.
Building
Berle church has obvious similarities to the Nordsida church in StrynStryn
Stryn is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Stryn which had a population of 2,177 in 2009. The municipality is located along the innermost part of the...
and the interior is designed in the same way. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
is separated from the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
by a simple, square altar rail. The room is light, marked by the white concrete walls and the pine-panelled slanted ceiling, with narrow windows on the sides. On the side of the main room there are partition walls to the smaller assembly room, but both rooms are used for the major church services. The small assembly room is normally used for various club activities, festive occasions, church coffees, funerals, as well as meetings of the church council. The kitchen is also used as a baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
al vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
, whereas the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
's vestry is located to the right of the chancel.
History
Berle church is one of the most modern churches in the county is located on the main island of BremangerlandetBremangerlandet
Bremangerlandet is an island in the municipality of Bremanger in the traditional district of Nordfjord in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The island is the largest island in the county. The highest point on the island is the mountain Svartevassegga at , however the cliff at Hornelen, located ...
by the sea called Frøysjøen. It was built four years after a similar church was built at Nordsida in Stryn
Stryn
Stryn is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Stryn which had a population of 2,177 in 2009. The municipality is located along the innermost part of the...
. In the village of Berle
Berle
Berle is a village on the west coast of Norway. It is located on the eastern coast of Bremangerlandet island in the municipality of Bremanger, Sogn og Fjordane county. The village lies along the Berlepollen fjord, about west of the cliff Hornelen. Berle is about a drive west from the village...
bygda people had worked almost as long as the people in the village of Blaksetbygda to get a church of their own. In the former case, however, it was not a discussion of location which slowed down the process, but rather the fact that other projects were given priority.
The unpredictable weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
conditions on the Frøysjøen make it easy to understand that people wanted to have their own church at Berle. For centuries they had gone to the church at Rugsund, and had experienced their fair share of dramatic episodes on their way to church. To make matters worse, it took close to four hours by boat and car to get to the church and back. The school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
was the only house they could use for assemblies, but around 1900, more and more people agreed that it was time to start the process of getting their own church. Things improved a little when the village of Berle got their own graveyard
Graveyard
A graveyard is any place set aside for long-term burial of the dead, with or without monuments such as headstones...
in 1893, next door to the present church site. The small chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
by the graveyard was also a blessing, because people could congregate there before the coffin
Coffin
A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which...
s were lowered into the ground. Nevertheless, a church of their own was high on the list of the local population.
Around 1910, the Berle district applied to become a separate chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
district, but the Rugsund sub-parish council put off dealing with the application, and eventually turned it down. But the inhabitants on the eastern side of Bremangerlandet
Bremangerlandet
Bremangerlandet is an island in the municipality of Bremanger in the traditional district of Nordfjord in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The island is the largest island in the county. The highest point on the island is the mountain Svartevassegga at , however the cliff at Hornelen, located ...
refused to give up. In 1911, they started raising money to build a church. Finally, in 1963, things started moving in the right direction when a special committee was appointed to work for a more targeted approach in the church cause. Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Per Juvkam's visit to Berle was also an inspiration for their cause. Later on, he took the initiative to let the people of Berle use the same design for the church as the congregation at Kilsfjord
Kilsfjord, Møre og Romsdal
Kilsfjord is a fjord in the municipality of Volda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located along the highway in the central part of the municipality. The Kilsfjord joins the Austefjord to form the Voldsfjord. It is located about east of the Dalsfjorden.-References:...
in Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Its main city is Ålesund. The region comprises the municipalities of Giske, Hareid, Herøy, Norddal, Sande, Skodje, Haram, Stordal, Stranda, Sula, Sykkylven, Ulstein, Vanylven, Volda, Ørskog,...
had done for their church, a cooperation the village of Blaksetbygda later on joined in. The municipal council of Davik
Davik
Davik is a village and former municipality in the traditional district of Nordfjord in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The former municipality of Davik was located in parts of the present-day municipalities of Vågsøy, Bremanger, and Eid. The administrative center of the former municipality was...
was also in favour of these plans.
There was cause for optimism in the local community until the extensive changes in municipal borders that took place in 1965, when the part of Davik
Davik
Davik is a village and former municipality in the traditional district of Nordfjord in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The former municipality of Davik was located in parts of the present-day municipalities of Vågsøy, Bremanger, and Eid. The administrative center of the former municipality was...
municipality which included Berle was transferred to the municipality of Bremanger
Bremanger
Bremanger is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Bremanger is the only municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, which is located in two districts. The north-eastern parts comprising Oldeide, Berle, Rugsund, Davik, Isane and Ålfoten is located in Nordfjord, while Bremanger, Kalvåg,...
. In the new and bigger municipality other things proved to be more important than building a church at Berle
Berle
Berle is a village on the west coast of Norway. It is located on the eastern coast of Bremangerlandet island in the municipality of Bremanger, Sogn og Fjordane county. The village lies along the Berlepollen fjord, about west of the cliff Hornelen. Berle is about a drive west from the village...
. In 1975, the municipal council of Bremanger finally resolved to build the long-awaited chapel. Bishop Per Juvkam was also a very happy man when he returned to Berle on 21 May 1976 to lay the foundation stone for the chapel. The following year, on 3 July 1977, his successor, bishop Thor With, came to Berle to consecrate this modern church building.