Christensen Family of Norsewood, NZ
Gamle Aker Church, Oslo, Norway
Page 1
Gamle Aker Kirke ('Old Aker Church'), where Anders Christian Christensen's baptism occurred in 1840 - when he was aged six months.
This church, which dates to 1080, is the oldest building in Oslo and is also the oldest stone church in Scandinavia that is still in use as a parish church. Oslo itself dates to 1050. The only two buildings from this era are the church and the old castle of Akerhus, which dates to 1300, but mostly to around 1600.
According to a 1958 tourist guide, the church contained a richly decorated pulpit that dates to 1715, and the interior of the 3-nave stone basilica had been restored in 1955. Another similar publication from 1952, recorded that this church was thought to be the only Romanesque building constructed on the site of an ancient wooden stave church.
Click here to view the Norwegian-language website from which the above picture derives. The other early photos of the church on this website were contributed by the webmaster of that website.
Click here to see a website entitled 'Heartdance', which describes a dance video that has recently been made inside Gamle Aker Church. The webpage entitled 'The Video' includes pictures from within the church and also some history of the church, including its WWII experiences.
Click here to view other pictures of the church, including its interior, on Page 2.
The layout of Gamle Aker Church as at 1851. The Norwegian caption reads: Schirmers oppmåling fra 1851. Presentert sammen med motstående restaureringsforslag, i 'Tillægg til Morgenbladet' 1852. Universitetsbiblioteket, Oslo.
Gamle Aker Church drawn in 1852. The Norwegian caption reads: Kirkens syd- og vestfasade før restaureringen i 1800-årene. Tverrskipets midtrom har yttertak felles med koret, mens tverrskipsarmenes tak danner en fortsettelse av sideskipstaket. Ved en opprinnelig løsning uten tårn ville tverrskipets midtrom hatt tak i høyde med midtskipet. Over sideskipstaket i vest er det et murfremspring som tilhørte trappen inne i muren. Det ble fjernet da denne ble gjenmurt. Frem til restaureringen var de fleste opprinnelige vinduer i behold ved siden av de såkalte 'utskuddavinduer', som trolig går tilbake til 1600-årene. Tegning av Holtermann 1852. Foto Riksantikvaren.
This photo shows the church and surrounds in 1920, along with the street Telthusbakken.
Last updated: 22/7/2002
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