Vanse Church

Vanse Church
Vanse kirke
58°6′2.6748″N 6°41′38.785″E / 58.100743000°N 6.69410694°ECoordinates: 58°6′2.6748″N 6°41′38.785″E / 58.100743000°N 6.69410694°E
Location	Vanse Farsund,
Country	Norway
Denomination	Church of Norway
Churchmanship	Evangelical Lutheran
Website	www.listamenighet.no
History
Consecrated	approx. 1037
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Style	Cross shaped church
Completed	Rebuilt in the 13th century and in 1849. Restored 1849, 1875 and 1954.
Specifications
Capacity	1100
Materials	Stone
Administration
Parish	Lista
Diocese	Diocese of Agder og Telemark

Vanse Church is a cruciform church in Vanse, Farsund Municipality in Norway. The church is a medieval church, built of stone, but was rebuilt and expanded in the 12th century and in 1848-1849.

History

Given that Lista apparently was a more populous area than Oddernes parish, and that these churches seem to be built by the same teams, Vanse Church has been dated to 1037.^[1][2] Possibly the first church has been built in wood, and replaced by a stone church at a later stage.^[3] The stone church may originally have been in Romanesque style. The church still has pointed arches in early Gothic style. Originally it had two windows high up on the south wall, and two windows at the choir wall.^[4] Other literature indicates that the creation of the church was begun around 1200, and designed with pointed arches in early Gothic architecture.^[5] However, this may indicate the dating of some of the oldest parts of the church are derived from the 13th century.

The church was rebuilt again and expanded in 1848, because of an accident in the church where eight people were killed and several were injured. The accident occurred when there arose panic in the crowded church and several people were trampled to death.^[6] The choir and the east wall was demolished in 1848 and was replaced by a large cross-shaped extension. It was during the restoration found a small box of lead with a piece of cloth, some limestone and a pece of bone from an unknown saint (possibly St. Olaf). It was found under the church floor in Vanse Church, just in front of the former altar.

The church has also subsequently undergone restoration. The church is listed by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage, pursuant to Norwegian law.^[7]

References

1. Vanse kirke bygget i 1037 Church of Norway (Norwegian)
2. Muri, Sigurd; Norske kyrkjer, Oslo 1971, page 114 (Norwegian)
3. Brekne: Vanse kirkejubileum Anniversary Booklet 1987 (Norwegian)
4. Vanse kirkes historie gjennom 1000 år. (Norwegian)
5. Ekroll page 246 (Norwegian)
6. Vanse kirkes historie gjennom 1000 år ”Den store forstyrrelsen” i Vanse kirke 1848. (Norwegian)
7. Vanse kitkested Kulturminnesøk ID: 85763 Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage (Norwegian)

External links

• Lista Congregation Website (Norwegian)