Bø Church () is a
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...
of the
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway (, , , ) is an Lutheranism, evangelical Lutheran denomination of Protestant Christianity and by far the largest Christian church in Norway. Christianity became the state religion of Norway around 1020, and was established a ...
in
Midt-Telemark Municipality
Midt-Telemark is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Midt-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the villag ...
in
Telemark
Telemark () is a Counties of Norway, county and a current electoral district in Norway. Telemark borders the counties of Vestfold, Buskerud, Vestland, Rogaland and Agder. In 2020, Telemark merged with the county of Vestfold to form the county o ...
county,
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
. It is located in the
village of Bø. It is the main church for the Bø
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christianity, Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest#Christianity, priest, often termed a parish pries ...
which is part of the
Øvre Telemark prosti (
deanery
A deanery (or decanate) is an ecclesiastical entity in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, the Evangelical Church in Germany, and the Church of Norway. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of ...
) in the
Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a
long church
Church building in Norway began when Christianity in Norway, Christianity was established there around the year 1000. The first buildings may have been post churches erected in the 10th or 11th century, but the evidence is inconclusive. For inst ...
design in 1875 using plans drawn up by the
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
Jacob Wilhelm Nordan
Jacob Wilhelm Nordan (23 February 1824 – 11 April 1892) was a Danish-born, Norwegian architect. During his career, he was one of the most prolific church architects in Norway.
Biography
Nordan was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and came to Nor ...
. The church seats about 450 people.
History
The
Old Bø Church
Old Bø Church () is a former parish church of the Church of Norway in Midt-Telemark Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the village of Bø. It used to be the main church for the Bø parish which is part of the Øvre Telem ...
was used for centuries by the people of
Bø. By the mid-1800s, the old church was in seriously bad shape. There were structural problems that were threatening the building, in addition to the fact that the old church was much smaller than it should be for the size of the parish. It was then decided to build a new church to replace the old building. Designs for the new church were drawn by
Jacob Wilhelm Nordan
Jacob Wilhelm Nordan (23 February 1824 – 11 April 1892) was a Danish-born, Norwegian architect. During his career, he was one of the most prolific church architects in Norway.
Biography
Nordan was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and came to Nor ...
and it was decided to build the new church on the west side of the present churchyard, about to the northwest of the old church. The new church was built in 1874-1875 and it was
consecrated
Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...
in 1875. After this, the
Old Bø Church
Old Bø Church () is a former parish church of the Church of Norway in Midt-Telemark Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the village of Bø. It used to be the main church for the Bø parish which is part of the Øvre Telem ...
was closed and no longer used (later the old church was restored and preserved for history).
Media gallery
Bø kirke, med minnestøtte for krigen 1807-1814.jpg
Bø kirke - no-nb digifoto 20160223 00268 NB MIT FNR 02085.jpg
Bø kirke, kirkegården.jpg
Bø gamle kirke, med kirkegården.jpg, View of the Old Bø Church on the other side of the cemetery
Orgel i Nye Bø Kirke.jpg
Skib i Bø Nye Kirke.jpg
See also
*
List of churches in Agder og Telemark
Several Church of Norway churches are in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark in Norway. This list includes all of the parishes in Agder and Telemark counties. The diocese is based at the Kristiansand Cathedral in the city of Kristiansand (town), Kris ...
References
{{use dmy dates, date=November 2022
Midt-Telemark
Churches in Telemark
Long churches in Norway
Wooden churches in Norway
19th-century Church of Norway church buildings
Churches completed in 1875
1875 establishments in Norway