Church of the Cross, Oslo

Church of the Cross, ruin at the Ruin Park, Oslo

Church of the Cross (in full Church of the Holy Cross, Norwegian: Korskirken) was a small, Medieval parish church for the northern part of the Old Town of Oslo, Norway. The ruin was rediscovered in 1922 and is now a part of the Ruin Park containing the ruins of the church and the greater St. Hallvard's Cathedral.

History

There is no definite information about when the church was built. The church is not mentioned in the sources of the fighting in Oslo in 1240 between King Haakon IV and Duke Skule, suggesting that it is possibly younger. In 1989 it was found a stick with runic inscriptions, dated to the first half of the 13th century. The name Church of the Cross occurs in these inscriptions, and it indicates that it may be older than 1240. When the church was built, it was located far north in the city, and an urban development north of the church came in the second half of the 13th century and the 14th century.

Church of the Cross had input from the west, from the cemetery, an entrance from the west and an entrance directly to the chancel from the south. The remains of the original altar foundation is visible. Around the church are the remains of the cemetery wall.^[1][2]

References

1. Kulturminnesøk Korskirken (Church of the Cross) Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage (Norwegian)
2. Church of the Cross (Korskirken) at Norske Kirkebygg (Norwegian)

Coordinates: 59°54′25″N 10°46′10″E / 59.90704°N 10.76948°E