Gamlebyen Church
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/City_of_Christiania_%28JW_Edy_plate_49%29.jpg/220px-City_of_Christiania_%28JW_Edy_plate_49%29.jpg)
The abbey Church which was built towards the end of the 1200s, was one of Oslo's earliest buildings constructed of brick which came from Duke Hakon's brickworks on the banks of the Alna River.
After the Protestant Reformation in 1536 the church was converted into a hospital.
In 1567, during the Swedish attack, the first church was destroyed. On the ruins of the abbey, the building was divided into several floors and served thereafter as a hospital building with a church on the first floor. The house now known as the "stone building" was added later. This is regarded today as the oldest hospital building. During the 1700s there were also several buildings, including "Dollhuset" for psychiatric patients.
In 1734, a new church was built on the foundations of the nave. After the last fire on 13 January 1794 the church was rebuilt in Louis XVI style two years later, again in brick. The old medieval choir was demolished and replaced with a tower that stands there today. The newly built church was opened on 11 May 1796. In the 1800s the church was rebuilt several times. In the period 1934–1939, it was renovated by architect William K. Essendrop, reestablishing its earlier appearance. The flat murtaket was replaced with an arched vault, and a new sacristy was built. The church was reopened on Christmas Eve 1939, in the presence of King Haakon VII.
Today's church
The church has seating for just 200 people. It is one of the oldest churches in Oslo that is still in use. The main building is from 1796. The Stone Building is from 1737. In 1880, seating was added and changes were made to the altar and pulpit. From 1934 to 1939, extensive restoration reestablished the look of 1796. The pulpit from 1880 hangs above the altar but is not in use.
References
- ^ Gamlebyen (Oslo) on http://lokalhistoriewiki.no in Norwegian
- ^ Franciscan Abbey Churches in Oslo in Norwegian
- ^ http://snl.no/Fransiskanerklosteret_i_Oslo Franciscan Abbey in Oslo], Store Norske Leksikon in Norwegian
- ^ Gamlebyen gravlund Gravferdsetaten (The Cemetery Administration) City of Oslo (in Norwegian)
- ^ Gamlebyen Church at www.visitoslo.com
- ^ www.emblemsvaag.no about Gamlebye Church in Norwegian
- ^ Oslo Hospital, Church page by Oslo University in Norwegian
- ^ Kirkebøe, M.C.; Oslos kirker i gammel og ny tid New edition by K.A. Tvedt and Ø. Reisegg Oslo 2007 ISBN 82-573-1946-5, in Norwegian