Ancient Diocese of Hamar

Diocese of Hamar Dioecesis Hamar Bispedømme Hamar
The old cathedral of Hamar
Location
Country	Norway
Ecclesiastical province	Niðaros
Metropolitan	Niðaros
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	1153
Cathedral	Old Cathedral of Hamar

The former Norwegian Catholic diocese of Hamar existed from 1152 to 1542, when the Protestant Reformation turned it into a bishoric of the Lutheran state church.

The cathedral see was at Hamar, and the diocese included the (modern) counties of Hedmark (except Solør, Odalen and the northern part of Østerdalen), Oppland (except Valdres), and the middle part of Buskerud (the traditional districts Numedal and Ringerike). It also included some parts of Telemark (the modern municipalities of Hjartdal, Notodden, Seljord, Tinn and Vinje).

It was formed in 1152 out of the diocese of Oslo, when Arnold, Bishop of Garðar, Greenland (1124–1152), was appointed first Bishop of Hamar. He began to build the now ruined cathedral of Christ Church, which was completed about the time of Bishop Paul (1232–1252).

Bishop Thorfinn (1278–1282) was exiled and died at Ter Doest Cistercian Abbey in Lissewege, Flanders. Bishop Jörund (1285–1286) was transferred to the archdiocese of Trondhjem. A provincial council was held in 1380.

The last Catholic bishop, Mogens Lauritssøn (1513–1537), was taken prisoner in his castle at Hamar by , a Danish noble, and sent to Antvorskov in Denmark, where he was held until his death in 1542. There were at Hamar a cathedral chapter with ten canons, a school, a Dominican Priory of St. Olaf, and a monastery of the Canons Regular of St. Anthony of Vienne.