Stavanger Cathedral

The Cathedral of Stavanger (Norwegian Stavanger domkirke ) is the oldest Episcopal church in Norway. It stands in the center of Stavanger and is the seat of the Lutheran Diocese of Stavanger. It is dedicated to St. Svithun.

History

Bishop Reinald, who probably came from the English Winchester, 1100 laid the foundation stone of the cathedral, which was completed in 1150. This makes it the oldest Kathedralgebäude Norway. It is virtually unchanged since the 13th century. The origin of the bishop, it is also due to that the Church in Anglo-Norman style emerged. Bishop Reinald however, was hanged in 1135 in Bergen.

With the founding of the diocese, which was separated from the diocese of Bergen, Stavanger, the city was granted town rights in 1125. It was in 1272 ravaged by a fire that also damaged the Romanesque cathedral. It was enlarged and partly rebuilt in the Gothic style. As building material soapstone and green slate served.

Until the Reformation were among 36 relics to the church treasury. 1682 the bishop's seat was moved to Kristiansand and in 1925 rebuilt by King Haakon VII.

A storm destroyed the mid 19th century parts of the roof, which was then placed again. In the 1860s the church was restored and converted, where they lost their medieval character. In a new restoration 1939-1964 parts could be these alterations in turn undone. Further restorations were made 1554-56, 1743, 1866-74 and 1999.

During the restoration in 1866 a monastic chasuble was found in the attic. It is decorated with an image that well depicts the saint Svithun.

Architecture and Facilities

During the nave is still Romanesque, after the first firing choir, portals and porch were built gothic. Under the porch of the foundations of a large central tower have been found during excavations. Its function is not fully understood. It was probably built earlier than the nave, and could have served as a watchtower. After the first fire, he was knocked down and replaced by the current portal porch. In the early 1920s has been discussed to build the tower again, but this project was soon discarded. In the lobby there are several tombs and epitaphs, among other things, for the second Bishop Botolf Asbjornson. There is a carillon above the entrance. Since 1925, it hangs there and initially consisted of 22 bells. With the enlargement in 1997 to 27 bells, it now consists of 49 bells.

During the last major restoration of a statue of St. Svithun Stinius Frederiksen was erected in 1962 on the east side of the choir. The nave basilica is built like. The increased central nave is separated by massive Romanesque columns of the lower aisles. The dimensions of the nave be 25.8 x 18 meters. On each side of the column than six sheets are interconnected.

The pulpit was built from 1658 until shortly before laying the bishopric after Kristiansand by Andrew Smith in the church. It replaced a pulpit by Nils Olavson. The Gothic baptismal font dates from the period 1250-1300. Emanuel Vigeland designed the chandelier. The stained glass windows are younger and were created only during the last restoration in 1957 by Victor Sparre. In the aisles there are other tombs and epitaphs, partly decorated in color.

On a gallery between nave and choir was from 1622 an organ. In the 1860s the gallery was demolished. At the entrance to the sacristy there are two statues of King Magnus and King Erik Lagabøte Mangusson. Both originally had a beard, but this proposal was " shaved " during the restoration of 1860. Additional information is found in the choir a Danish Bible by Anders Lauritsen Smith, the portrait of the Superintendent Jørgen Erikson, a cup and a slice of Laurits Clausen ( 1608) and the glass window on the east wall of Victor Sparre (1957). The choir is externally bounded by two towers.

In the crypt, about 1000 skeletons were found, indicating that at this point prior to the current cathedral was already another church. It has its own external entrance. She also served as grave lay. But the smell of death was so strong that further burials were prohibited in the crypt in 1805. During the restoration in 1866 about 100 coffins were removed from the crypt.

Organ

The organ was built in 1991 by the organ builders Gebr Reil, reusing material pipes of the organ from 1941, which of the Danish organ builder TH Frobenius ( Lyngby ) was built with 60 registers. The instrument has 51 registers on three manuals and pedal today.

• Couplers: II / I, III / I, III / II, I / P, II / P III / P