# Octagonal churches in Norway

An octagonal church has an octagonal (eight-sided polygon) architectural plan. The exterior and the interior (the nave) may be shaped as eight-sided polygon with approximately equal sides or only the nave is eight-sided supplemented by choir and porch (or narthex) attached to the octagon. This architectural plan is found in some 70 churches in Norway. Among these Hospitalskirken in Trondheim is the oldest. This type of church plan spread from the Diocese of Nidaros to other parts of Norway. Virtually all octagonal churches in Norway are constructed as log buildings mostly covered by clapboards. Some of the largest churches in Norway are octagonal and the list includes important cultural heritage monuments such as Trinity Church (Oslo), Sør-Fron Church, and Røros Church.
   This is the bright and solemn church room of classicism, whether it is such a large building [as Røros Church] or the modest rural log churches, the interior is covered and interconnected by cheerful colors of the Roccoco in marbling and ceiling. This was our last independent contribution to ecclesiastical architecture.

## History

During the Middle Ages, some 1000 wooden stave churches and only 270 stone churches were erected in Norway. During the 15th and 16th centuries, virtually no new churches were built. When church building resumed around the year 1600, most stave churches disappeared and were often replaced by log churches. While in most of Europe, only masonry churches were built, wood construction still dominated in Norway. During the 1600s, the cruciform floor plan tended to replace the traditional simple rectangular "long church". In the cruciform church, the view to the altar is partly obstructed by walls, a drawback that is not found in the octagonal shape. The octagonal shape also allows the pulpit to be the focal point, according to the ideals of the Reformation where the spoken word (the sermon) should be the central act during a worship service. Lorentz Dietrichson believed that the octagonal church became popular because of the rationalism's need for the church as a lecture hall ("auditorium").
In 1686, the first octagonal church in Norway, Vrådal Church, was constructed in Vrådal (in Telemark). It was a log building that replaced a medieval stave church. The Vrådal church apparently did not influence subsequent octagonal buildings in Norway. Inspiration for the first octagonal churches in Trøndelag probably came from elsewhere in Protestant Europe. Some octagonal churches within Lutheranism were erected at the same time in Sweden and Germany for instance Zum Friedefürsten Church in Saxony and Järlåsa Church in Sweden. In the Netherlands, the reformed church in Willemstad, North Brabant, Koepelkerk (Domed Church) (1607), the first Protestant church building in the Netherlands, was given an octagonal shape according to Calvinism's focus on the sermon. The Oostkerk, Middelburg is a domed, octagonal church erected from 1648 to 1667. Johan Christopher Hempel, architect and master builder of Hospitalskirken in Trondheim, was probably from the Netherlands where the octagonally shaped church first appeared and spread to other Protestant countries in Northern Europe. The octagonal floor plan came to Denmark when Frederiksberg Church was built by Dutch Felix Dusart. Dusart used a church in his Dutch hometown as a model. Frederiksberg Church is in turn regarded as the model for the octagonal baroque church (1756) in Rellingen, Schleswig-Holstein. The Rellingen Church, a key baroque monument in Schleswig-Holstein, is shown on the town's coat of arms. The baroque Katharinenkirche in Großenaspe, Schleswig-Holstein, is an octagonal design with "pulpit altar" (″Kanzelaltar″ in German) used for instance in Sør-Fron Church. During the 18th century, both Schleswig-Holstein and Norway were a part of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway. Hosar suggests that Norwegian troops did military service in Schleswig-Holstein, and may have observed the new churches being constructed there at the time.
The octagonal shape provides a more rigid log structure than the simple rectangular long church design, allowing a larger nave to be built. Christie believes that this is why the octagonal design was adopted alongside the cruciform plan. Starting in 1810, ten octagonal churches were erected in the rural interior parts of Agder, most of these constructions used Hornnes Church as model.

## Construction

Virtually all octagonal churches in Norway are built from timber in a log construction, notable exceptions are Sør-Fron Church, Vang Church at Ridabu in Hamar, and Røros Church (stone buildings). Trinity Church (Oslo) is the only octagonal church in Norway built in red brick. These masonry buildings are also the largest among the octagonal churches. The octagonal plan creates different angles and accordingly more challenging work for the carpenter compared to buildings with straight angels such as the cruciform plan. The cruciform plan was the dominant church design in Norway when the octagonal plan was introduced. The octagonal plan offers better view of the choir compared to the cruciform plan. The octagonal plan also creates a more rigid wood construction then the simple rectangular plan ("long church" or "hall church") allowing taller and wider buildings with a single room. Håkon Christie believed that these are the reasons the octagonal church became popular in Norway. In the basilica-shaped Samnanger church, the corners of the aisles are cut creating an octagonal plan. This design was chosen to make the walls shorter and avoiding the need to splice logs.

## Architects

Until the 19th century, Norwegian churches were often designed and constructed by master builders rather than by professionally trained architects. Johan Christopher Hempel, chief mason and builder of Trondheim, designed the two oldest existing octagonal churches. Master builder and politician Elling Olsson Walbøe designed and constructed at least three octagonal churches. Parish priests were also involved, at least three octagonal churches were designed by their respective pastors (Ulstein Church, Old Stordal Church, and Vang Church). For instance, Abraham Pihl designed the large Vang Church in Ridabu. A large number of churches, including several octagonal, were constructed according to prototypes compiled by Hans Linstow.
The prominent architect Christian H. Grosch were responsible for a number of churches in Norway, including the basic plan for several octagonal churches, including
* Mo Church (Nord-Odal)
* Tjugum Church in Balestrand Municipality
* Otterøy Church in Namsos Municipality
* Rogne Church i Øystre Slidre Municipality
* Dverberg Church in Andøy Municipality
* Tangen Church in Stange Municipality
* the old Kirkenes Church which was destroyed during World War II
Farmer and "founding father" Lars Larsen Forsæth produced drawings used to build at least three octagonal churches:
* Klæbu Church
* Støren Church
* Hornnes Church

## Distribution

During the period from 1750 to 1830, about 230 churches were constructed in Norway. Among these, 35 were octagonal, 62 were long churches (single nave hall church) and 110 were given a cruciform floor plan. During this period, 17 octagonal churches appeared in the Diocese of Nidaros (all of Norway north of the Dovrefjell mountains). Later, these church designs became popular in rural Agder.
Muri in 1975 made a survey of existing churches built since Christianity was introduced in Norway until World War II:
| Type of building | Count |
| Stave church | 31 |
| Medieval stone church | 157 |
| Long church | 850 |
| Cruciform | 190 |
| Octagonal | 74 |
| Y-shape | 5 |
| Square floor plan | 15 |
In addition to the existing churches listed, some octagonal churches were demolished and replaced. Previous octagonal churches (year built-year dismantled), included in statistics:
* Vrådal Church in Kviteseid Municipality (1686-1887)
* Øye Church in Surnadal Municipality (1724-1871)
* Undrumsdal Church in Tønsberg Municipality (1730-1882)
* Hopen Church in Smøla Municipality (1749-1891)
* Flekkefjord Church in Flekkefjord Municipality (1790-1843), a new octagonal church was built in 1833
* Hareid Church in Hareid Municipality (1806-1877), built by Elling Olsson Walbøe, used as a model for Haram Church in Haram Municipality
Number of buildings by county :
| County (current division) | Current buildings | Including perished buildings |
| Oslo | 1 | 1 |
| Innlandet | 13 | 14 |
| Buskerud | 2 | 2 |
| Vestfold | 1 | 2 |
| Telemark | 1 | 2 |
| Agder | 11 | 11 |
| Rogaland | 1 | 1 |
| Vestland | 5 | 5 |
| Møre og Romsdal | 16 | 19 |
| Trøndelag | 13 | 13 |
| Nordland | 9 | 9 |
| Troms | 1 | 1 |
| Finnmark | 2 | 2 |
Some of the largest churches in Norway are octagonal:
* Røros Church 1640 seats
* Trinity Church (Oslo) 1000 seats (originally 1200), Greek cross and octagon combined
* Vang Church 1000 seats
* Sør-Fron Church 750 seats
* Tynset Church 700 seats (the largest log church)
* Flekkefjord Church 650 seats
* Stor-Elvdal Church 600 seats
* Dolstad Church 500 seats

## List of octagonal churches

List of existing buildings by year of construction and county (list may be incomplete). :
| Building | Year | County | Architect | Notes |
| Trinity Church (Oslo) | 1858 | Oslo | Chateauneuf/von Hanno | cruciform with octagon, brick masonry |
| Tynset Church | 1795 | Innlandet | Ellingsen | |
| Vang Church at Ridabu | 1810 | Innlandet | Pihl | Aspaas master builder. Masonry |
| Stor-Elvdal Church | 1821 | Innlandet | Aspaas |
| Tolga Church | 1840 | Innlandet | Aspaas, Rasmus/Berg, John E. | |
| Åsmarka Church | 1859 | Innlandet | Nordan | |
| Tangen Church (Stange) | 1862 | Innlandet | Grosch | |
| Mo Church (Nord-Odal) | 1864 | Innlandet | Grosch | |
| Sør-Fron Church | 1792 | Innlandet | Aspaas? | Aspaas master builder. Masonry |
| Åmot Church (Nordre Land) | 1823 | Innlandet | Pihl | |
| Jevnaker Church | 1834 | Innlandet | Pihl/Aspaas? | |
| Rogne Church in Øystre Slidre | 1857 | Innlandet | Grosch | |
| Svatsum Church in Gausdal | 1860 | Innlandet | Friis | |
| Nordberg Church (Skjåk) | 1864 | Innlandet | Nordan | |
| Bøverdal Church | 1864 | Innlandet | Rusten | |
| Nes Church (Ringerike) | 1860 | Buskerud | Grosch | |
| Hval Church | 1862 | Buskerud | Grosch | drawing as Rogne? |
| Langestrand Church, Larvik | 1818 | Vestfold | Lind | |
| Kilebygda Church | 1859 | Telemark | Grosch | |
| Årdal Church (Bygland) | 1828 | Agder | Syrtveit | |
| Hornnes Church | 1828 | Agder | Forsæth | model for several churches in rural Agder |
| Mykland Church | 1832 | Agder | Olsen | |
| Hylestad Church, Valle | 1838 | Agder | Syrtveit | «Linstow type» |
| Sandnes Church (Bygland) | 1844 | Agder | Syrtveit | prototype by Linstow |
| Herefoss Church, Birkenes | 1865 | Agder | Nordan | |
| Sandnes Chapel, Bygland | 1949 | Agder | Tallaksen | |
| Hægeland Church, Vennesla | 1830 | Agder | Syrtveit (master builder) | Hornnes Church model |
| Flekkefjord Church | 1833 | Agder | Linstow | |
| Kvinesdal Church | 1837 | Agder | Linstow | |
| Hægebostad Church | 1844 | Agder | Grosch, Hald | |
| Hidra Church, Flekkefjord | 1854 | Agder | Grosch | cruciform with octagon |
| Skåre Church, Haugesund | 1858 | Rogaland | Grosch |
| Samnanger Church | 1851 | Vestland | Grønning | basilica shape |
| Norddal Church | 1782 | Møre og Romsdal | Døving (master buileder) | Hospitalskirken model |
| Old Stordal Church | 1789 | Møre og Romsdal | Tønder (parish priest) |
| Leikanger Church (Herøy) | 1807 | Møre og Romsdal | Walbøe | relocated 1873 |
| Sandøy Church | 1812 | Møre og Romsdal | unknown | |
| Romfo Church, Sunndal | 1821 | Møre og Romsdal | Tofte (master builder) | |
| Tresfjord Church | 1828 | Møre og Romsdal | Kroken | |
| Grytten Church | 1829 | Møre og Romsdal | Aspaas? | |
| Aukra Church | 1835 | Møre og Romsdal | unknown | |
| Stranda Church | 1838 | Møre og Romsdal | unknown | |
| Haram Church | 1838 | Møre og Romsdal | unknown | |
| Geiranger Church | 1842 | Møre og Romsdal | Klipe | |
| Ålvundeid Church | 1848 | Møre og Romsdal | Tofte (master builder) | |
| Ulstein Church | 1849 | Møre og Romsdal | Wraaman (parish priest) | relocated 1878 |
| Kleive Church | 1858 | Møre og Romsdal | unknown | prototype by Grosch? |
| Eresfjord Church | 1869 | Møre og Romsdal | unknown | possibly based on prototype |
| St. Sunniva Church (Molde) | 1957 | Møre og Romsdal | | catholic |
| Innvik Church | 1822 | Vestland | Walbøe | |
| Loen Church | 1838 | Sogn og Fjordane | unknown? |
| Lavik Church | 1865 | Vestland | Grosch | |
| Tjugum Church | 1868 | Vestland | Grosch |
| Hospitalskirken at the Trondhjem Hospital in Trondheim | 1705 | Trøndelag | Hempel | |
| Bakke Church, Trondheim | 1715 | Trøndelag | Hempel | |
| Røros Church | 1784 | Trøndelag | Neumann(?) | Aspaas/Ellingsen (master masons) |
| Klæbu Church | 1790 | Trøndelag | Forsæth | |
| Støren Church | 1817 | Trøndelag | Aspaas/Claus Forsæth | |
| Hemne Church | 1817 | Trøndelag | «Jakob Kirkebygger» | |
| Buvik Church | 1819 | Trøndelag | unknown? | Aspaas or Forsæth? |
| Vinje Church (Hemne) | 1824 | Trøndelag | Konstum | |
| Lønset Chapel | 1863 | Trøndelag | Rønningen | |
| Titran Chapel | 1873 | Trøndelag | unknown | originally gospel hall |
| Vinne Church, Verdal | 1817 | Trøndelag | unknown? | «Oluff kirkebygger»? |
| Otterøy Church, Namsos | 1858 | Trøndelag | Grosch |
| Kristi krybbe Church | 1959 | Trøndelag | Helland-Hansen | private, Røyrvik |
| Vassås Church | 1733 | Nordland | Ryjord |
| Dolstad Church | 1735 | Nordland | Bech (master builder) | cruciform with octagon |
| Ankenes Church, Ofoten | 1842 | Nordland | Julin | |
| Dverberg Church | 1843 | Nordland | Grosch | |
| Hadsel Church | 1824 | Nordland | unknown | |
| Hemnes Church | 1872 | Nordland | Eckhoff | cruciform with octagon |
| Rødøy Church | 1885 | Nordland | Grenstad, J.P. Digre | cruciform/octagon |
| Digermulen Church, Svolvær | 1951 | Nordland | Nygaard & Schyberg | concrete |
| Røssvoll Church | 1953 | Nordland | Nygård & Skyberg | |
| Bardu Church | 1829 | Troms | Lundberg | copy of Tynset Church |
| Hasvik Church | 1951 | Finnmark | Hansteen | previous church burnt by occupant forces |
| Børselv Church | 1958 | Finnmark | Hansteen & Sørensen | |

## Picture gallery

* Churches with central tower
* Lavik Church - the octagonal plan reflected in the tower.
* St. Sunniva catholic church in Molde (town)
* Norddal Church - first octagonal in Sunnmøre
* Nes Church at Ringerike Municipality Credit: John Erling Blad
* Stor-Elvdal Church in Stor-Elvdal Municipality
* Åsmarka Church in Ringsaker Municipality, drawings by Jacob Wilhelm Nordan
* Tangen Church in Stange Municipality, drawn by Grosch
* Mykland Church in Froland Municipality
* Dolstad Church combines octagonal and cruciform floorplan
* Dverberg Church drawn by Grosch
* Asymmetrically placed tower
* Røros Church is a landmark and the largest octagonal church in Norway.
* Tynset Church is the largest octagonal log church, design inspired by Røros Church. Credit: PerPlex
* Bardu Church is a small copy of Tynset Church
* Samnanger Church combines basilical and octagonal floor plan Credit: Per Magne Kjøde
* Vang Church in Hamar is a masonry building designed by Abraham Pihl Credit: Torstein Frogner
* Kvinesdal Church, drawings by Linstow
* Hylestad Church in Valle Municipality Credit: Helge Haugland
* Hidra Church combines octagonal and cruciform shape Credit: C. Christensen Thomhav/Riksantikvaren
* Jevnaker Church (drawings probably by Pihl)
* Svatsum Church in Gausdal Municipality designed by Otto Hjort Friis
* Interiors
* Bakke Church (1965 photo)
* Hadsel Church with ship model (1938 photo)
* Røros Church with royal balcony and insignia of the copper mine