Ancient Diocese of Stavanger

The former Catholic Diocese of Stavanger, in Norway, included the ( modern ) counties of Rogaland, Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder - together with the regions of Valdres and Hallingdal ( and the parishes of Eidfjord and Røldal from Hordaland ). It existed from the beginning of the twelfth century to the Protestant Reformation.

It was formed early in the twelfth century out of the southern portion of the Diocese of Bergen, which had included until then the whole of Western Norway ( Gulating ). Reinald, an Englishman and most probably a Benedictine monk from Winchester Cathedral, was the first Bishop of Stavanger. With the money given him in 1128 by King Sigurd Jorsalefarer, for allowing that monarch to marry one Cecilia during the lifetime of his consort Queen Malmfrid, Reinald began the cathedral and founded the chapter. He was hanged at Bergen in 1135 by King Harald Gille upon his refusing to pay fifteen marks of gold to that monarch, who suspected him of concealing the treasures belonging to King Magnus IV of Norway.

Reinald's successor, John Birgerssön, was translated to the archdiocese of Trondhjem in 1152, as was also Bishop Eric Ivarssön in 1188. The great quarrel lasting from 1294 to 1303, which Bishop Arne ( 1276 – 1303 ) had with his chapter, was terminated only by the intervention of King Haakon, who decided in favour of the chapter and decreed, among other things, that they should have a voice in all nominations to, and deprivations of, benefices in the diocese. Bishop Gutterm Paalssön ( 1343 – 1350 ) died of the Black Death. His successor, Arne Aslakssön, also died suddenly at Avignon, where he had gone to seek a dispensation super defectu natalium.

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