Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

The Svalbard church is the northernmost church in the world. It is a wooden 'long church' built in 1957, consecrated on 24 August 1958 by Bishop Alf Wiig, and rebuilt in 2004. The architect of the church was Hans Magnus. Built in 1921, the former Svalbard Church burned down during the Second World War.

The Svanvik Chapel, which was consecrated in 1934, was built according to the plans of architect Harald Sund. The chapel is characterized by the national neo-baroque in the simplified version of the time. Bishop Bergrav's message to the architect was that the chapel should be like a calling card for Norway, and have the character of a national bridgehead.

Svarstad church, dating from 1657, is the third church on this site. The previous church itself replaced a Stave church which probably burned down in 1392. It is a long church that reused building elements from the previous church. In the 19th century a porch was built at the western end of the nave and a sacristy at the eastern end of the choir. The church hall has retained much of its 17th and 18th century interiors.

Svatsum church is a small church, a late representative of the octagonal type with a west tower, several of which were built in Trøndelag, Oppland and Setesdal around 1800. The extension of the sacristy to the east of the choir dates from around 1920.

The church in Svedala was built in 1851-1852 from stone and replaced a medieval church. The architect of the church was C. G. Brunius. The present tower and a new sacristy were built during a major reconstruction in 1900-1902. In 1950, the south transept was separated from the nave and converted into a church and parish hall.

The church of Sveio is a long church dating from 1858. The church is a wooden nave basilica with a west tower and a choir at the right end. Two churches stood earlier, about 250 metres west of the present church. An old Stave church mentioned in 1686 is said to have been built in the Middle Ages. This church was replaced in 1688 by a wooden church.

The Svelgen chapel is a whitewashed "work church" dating from 1960. The architects of the building were Claus and Johan Lindstrøm.

The church in Svelvik is a long church from 1859, designed by Wilhelm Hanstein, with Christian H. Grosch as consultant. It replaced a medieval stone church dedicated to Nicholas of Myra. The church has arched (Romanesque) windows, but the expression is otherwise more oriented towards the neo-Gothic.

The church of Svene is a cruciform church from 1738. It was built on the same plan and of approximately the same size as the main church and the annex church in Lyngdal.

Vustra Vingaker's church was built during the Middle Ages, around the year 1300. Of the original medieval church, however, not much remains. The emissary church has today is more reminiscent of the great power era's 17th century when i.a. the choir and the altarpiece came into being. However, the church got its current appearance in connection with the major renovation that was completed in 1783 when i.a. the cross arms and the sacristy were built. The last major change to the church's exterior that was made was in 1885 when the tower hood was added.