Bremanger Church
Encyclopedia
Bremanger church is a wooden "long church" in Bremanger village on the island of Bremangerlandet
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
. It was called Bremangerpollen chapel until 1952.
The church is located at Hauge, in the innermost part of the bay of Bremangerpollen in the municipality of Bremanger. The church, with a seating capacity of 400, was consecrated on 4 September 1914 by the bishop
Johan Willoch Erichsen. The contractor Anders Karlsen Eid made the designs. Bremanger church is a main church for the Bremanger "sokn" (sub-parish) in the parish
of Bremanger.
island had been without a church of their own. The people who lived further north on the island complained that the journey to church had become too long and strenuous. Going by boat around Novene was often a risky undertaking, which kept people from going to church. The people felt that if they got a church in their own village, many more people would get the opportunity to listen to the words of the Lord
. These people, even the Vicar
, had to eventually yield to such a strong argument, and so the work was started in the 1890s to erect a new church in the village of Hauge. The farms between Vetvik and Nøtset were separated from the main "sokn" (sub-parish) of Frøya
and a new church was built at Hauge, in the innermost part of the bay of Bremangerpollen. The Bremangerpollen parish was established from 1 July 1908 and a few days later a "bedehus" (chapel
) was consecrated for church functions. From the village of Vetvik the journey to church was still more than long enough, and for those who chose not to go by boat, the alternative was a three-hour hike across the mountain.
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 ...
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...
. It was called Bremangerpollen chapel until 1952.
The church is located at Hauge, in the innermost part of the bay of Bremangerpollen in the municipality of Bremanger. The church, with a seating capacity of 400, was consecrated on 4 September 1914 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...
Johan Willoch Erichsen. The contractor Anders Karlsen Eid made the designs. Bremanger church is a main church for the Bremanger "sokn" (sub-parish) in the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Bremanger.
History
Since the church at Grotle was torn down in 1865, the people living in the northern part 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 ...
island had been without a church of their own. The people who lived further north on the island complained that the journey to church had become too long and strenuous. Going by boat around Novene was often a risky undertaking, which kept people from going to church. The people felt that if they got a church in their own village, many more people would get the opportunity to listen to the words of the Lord
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. These people, even 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...
, had to eventually yield to such a strong argument, and so the work was started in the 1890s to erect a new church in the village of Hauge. The farms between Vetvik and Nøtset were separated from the main "sokn" (sub-parish) of Frøya
Frøya, Sogn og Fjordane
Frøya is an island in the western part of the municipality of Bremanger in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The island is located just to the southwest of the big island of Bremangerlandet and its highest point is Fanneskarvarden at an elevation of ....
and a new church was built at Hauge, in the innermost part of the bay of Bremangerpollen. The Bremangerpollen parish was established from 1 July 1908 and a few days later a "bedehus" (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,...
) was consecrated for church functions. From the village of Vetvik the journey to church was still more than long enough, and for those who chose not to go by boat, the alternative was a three-hour hike across the mountain.