Christensen Family of Manawatu, NZ

Nes Church

Nes Church, at Nes, Romerike, in Akerhus County, Norway, was central to the early lives of a number of New Zealand's earliest Norwegian settlers. Bernt and Elisabeth Johansen, who emigrated aboard the Celaeno with the Christensens' in 1870 (and who later fostered their son Snowy),  married in the church two days before embarkation. This church was built in 1860 to replace a 900-year-old stone church, which was burnt out in 1854. Its ruins are now a tourist attraction. Russell Burr, great grandson of Anders and Marie, is standing in front of the main door. (Photo: Tom Halvorsen, Årnes, Norway, August 1999)

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