Avaldsnes Church

Avaldsnes Church
Avaldsnes kirke
View of the church
Avaldsnes Church Location in Rogaland county Show map of Rogaland Avaldsnes Church Location in Rogaland county Show map of Norway
59°21′21″N 5°17′28″E / 59.3558°N 5.2911°E / 59.3558; 5.2911Coordinates: 59°21′21″N 5°17′28″E / 59.3558°N 5.2911°E / 59.3558; 5.2911
Location	Karmøy, Rogaland
Country	Norway
Denomination	Church of Norway
Churchmanship	Evangelical Lutheran
History
Dedication	Saint Olav
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Unknown
Architectural type	Single nave
Style	Gothic
Completed	1250
Specifications
Capacity	400
Length	47 metres (154 ft)
Choir length	11.5 metres (38 ft)
Width	13.5 metres (44 ft)
Materials	Stone, wooden roof
Administration
Parish	Avaldsnes
Deanery	Karmøy prosti
Diocese	Diocese of Stavanger

Avaldsnes Church (Norwegian: Avaldsnes kirke, formally St. Olav's Church at Avaldsnes, Norwegian: St Olavskirken på Avaldsnes) is a parish church in Karmøy municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The medieval stone church is located in the village of Avaldsnes on the northern part of the island of Karmøy. The first church located here was likely built before the year 1024 on the site of a royal estate. The present stone church was built in 1250 and it seats about 400 people. The church is part of the Avaldsnes parish in the Karmøy deanery in the Diocese of Stavanger.

Before this church was constructed, there was a wooden church on the same site around the year 1024. That church is assumed to have been built by Olav Trygvason, and it is possible that the present stone church is built around this church originally.

This church has been a landmark for seafarers passing through the Karmsundet strait for 750 years. King Håkon IV Håkonsson gave permission to build a church around the year 1250. It was not completed until nearly 1320, and was then the fourth largest in the country. The church was dedicated to St. Olav and received the status of "Royal Chapel". During the same period it became one of four "college-churches" (it appointed a council of theological and juridical scholars). Probably there was a group of four scholars and teachers in law and theology. There could be there was an octagonal house of stone in close proximity to the quire. Chapter Houses (Kapittelhus) were common for English cathedrals. This is assumed to have been referenced by clergyman and historical writer in 1599. Remaining walls were visible as late as 1840, but are now completely gone.