HedrumChurch is a medieval stone church dating from 1100 in Hedrum, Norway. It is built of stone and can accommodate 300 people. As a medieval building, it automatically has protected cultural heritage status.
History
Hedrum Church is named in the Borgarting Christian law code, written 1080. It was one of six "county churches" in the area around the Oslo Fjord. Before the dioceses were created, the clergy of the county churches were appointed by the king. A church may have been built in Hedrum in 1060, probably a wooden church. A celebration of the 950th anniversary of the stone church, which was built 1100, was held in 2010.
Building
The church has a rectangular nave, a square chancel, and a semicircular apse. Archaeological studies of the structure indicate that the apse was built later. The arch leading to the apse has the same configuration as the arch to the chancel, suggesting that they may have been created at the same time. It is therefore assumed that an older wooden church stood east of the chancel and was later replaced with the apse. The nave was extended by in 1666, and so the western part with the portal and doorway dates from after the Reformation. The church underwent restoration in the 1920s. At that time, the exterior plaster was removed so that the stonework was exposed, and the sacristy was built on the north side of the chancel.
Inventory
The altar was given to the church by Peder Tøgersen and Hilvig Mickelsdatter in 1664. There are two female figures carved on either side of inner part of the pediment; the one on the left represents Temperance, and the one on the right Wisdom. They are flanked by Saint Peter holding a key and Saint John holding a chalice. The painting in the center shows the resurrection. There are many gravestones with coats of arms covering large parts of the floor in the church. The church's gravestones are registered with the Genealogy Society of Norway. There is an Iron Ageburial ground near the church.
