Halvor Olsen Folkestad (28 November 1807 – 30 September 1889) was a Bishop in 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 ...

. He was appointed Norwegian Councillor of State ''in interim'' in 1875. Folkestad was born at Bø 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 ...

, Norway. He was the son of Ole Halvorsen Folkestad (1778-1864) and Asberg Augundsdatter (1785-1866). He graduated in 1831 and then worked as a tutor in

Gjerpen Gjerpen is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Skien Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Gjerpen, which is now part o ...

. After a year of studies in Christiania (now called Oslo), he received his theological degree in 1836. In 1841, he was appointed vicar of

Mo, Telemark Mo is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Tokke Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Vistad which is located just wes ...

. From 1849 he served for the next 10 years as parish priest in

Kviteseid Kviteseid is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Vest-Telemark and Upper Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kviteseidbyen. Other villages in Kviteseid ...

and inspector at Kviteseid Seminary. In 1859, he became as vicar in Fredrikshald (now called

Halden Halden (), between 1665 and 1928 known as Fredrikshald, is both a List of cities in Norway, town and a Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Østfold Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The municipality borders Sarpsborg to the northwest, R ...

). In 1864 he was appointed bishop of the newly created

Diocese of Hamar The Diocese of Hamar () is a diocese within the Church of Norway. The Diocese of Hamar includes all of the churches in Innlandet county plus the churches in Lunner Municipality in Akershus county. Administratively, the diocese is divided into 1 ...

. In 1873, he was appointed by King

Oscar II of Sweden Oscar II (Oscar Fredrik; 21 January 1829 – 8 December 1907) was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death in 1907 and King of Norway from 1872 to 1905. Oscar was the son of Oscar I of Sweden, King Oscar I and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, Queen J ...

to be royal court pastor (). In 1875, he was a member of the interim government during the king's trip abroad. Folkestad sought and obtained dismissal of the episcopal office in 1887 at age 79. He died at Hamar during 1889 was buried at

Vår Frelsers gravlund The Cemetery of Our Saviour () is a cemetery in Oslo, Norway, located north of Hammersborg in Gamle Aker district. It is located adjacent to the older Old Aker Cemetery and was created in 1808 as a result of the great famine and cholera epidemi ...

in Oslo.

References

1807 births 1889 deaths People from Telemark Government ministers of Norway Norwegian priest-politicians 19th-century Norwegian Lutheran bishops Bishops of Hamar Burials at the Cemetery of Our Saviour {{Norway-politician-1800s-stub