Rugsund church
Encyclopedia
Rugsund Church is a wooden "long church" in Rugsund in the municipality of Bremanger
, Sogn og Fjordane
county, Norway
. The church is a part of the Davik
prestegjeld
in the Nordfjord deanery of the Diocese of Bjørgvin
.
Rugsund church is located on the farm of Hessevågen on the mainland side of Rugsund in the municipality of Bremanger. The church has a seating capacity of 400, and was consecrated on 2 September 1838. It was built according to the standard designs made by the architect Hans Ditlev Franciscus Linstow. Rugsund church is the main church for the Rugsund sokn (sub-parish) in the Davik parish. The church building was remodeled in 1912.
that was replaced in 1650. The present church building was constructed in 1838 after the previous one burned down. The church in Rugsund has a long history, but the church carrying this name today was erected at a different site than the earlier Rugsund churches. When the former church burned down, it had for a long time been a problem that the graveyard at Rugsundøya had such a shallow layer of soil
. This was an important reason why a new graveyard
and church site was moved to the mainland. As a matter of fact, the soil conditions were so bad at the earlier church site that funeral parties
transported masses of soil by boat to the graveyard.
The beautiful location of the previous church on the point above the harbour was a navigational landmark for ship
s. When the present church was to be built, people demanded a similarly beautiful location. At Rugsund, the church was centrally located with the main entrance facing the sea, and with an excellent view from the church steps across the sound
to the island
. The churchyard
encircles the church, and furthest down to the sea, there is a stately gate that the seafarers in earlier times walked through on their way to church. This was also the place where the vicar
went ashore when he came by boat from Davik
.
Bremanger
Bremanger is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Bremanger is the only municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, which is located in two districts. The north-eastern parts comprising Oldeide, Berle, Rugsund, Davik, Isane and Ålfoten is located in Nordfjord, while Bremanger, Kalvåg,...
, Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The church is a part of the Davik
Davik
Davik is a village and former municipality in the traditional district of Nordfjord in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The former municipality of Davik was located in parts of the present-day municipalities of Vågsøy, Bremanger, and Eid. The administrative center of the former municipality was...
prestegjeld
Prestegjeld
A Prestegjeld is a geographic and administrative area of the Church of Norway roughly equivalent to a parish. A prestegjeld can consist of one or many congregations...
in the Nordfjord deanery of the Diocese of Bjørgvin
Diocese of Bjørgvin
Bjørgvin Diocese is a diocese in the Church of Norway. It covers churches located in the counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane. The cathedral city is Bergen. Bergen Cathedral, formerly the Church of Saint Olaf, serves as the seat of the presiding Bishop...
.
Rugsund church is located on the farm of Hessevågen on the mainland side of Rugsund in the municipality of Bremanger. The church has a seating capacity of 400, and was consecrated on 2 September 1838. It was built according to the standard designs made by the architect Hans Ditlev Franciscus Linstow. Rugsund church is the main church for the Rugsund sokn (sub-parish) in the Davik parish. The church building was remodeled in 1912.
History
There has been a church in Rugsund (on the island of Rugsundøya) since the 13th century. The first church was a stave churchStave church
A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks. The load-bearing posts have lent their name to the building technique...
that was replaced in 1650. The present church building was constructed in 1838 after the previous one burned down. The church in Rugsund has a long history, but the church carrying this name today was erected at a different site than the earlier Rugsund churches. When the former church burned down, it had for a long time been a problem that the graveyard at Rugsundøya had such a shallow layer of soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
. This was an important reason why a new graveyard
Graveyard
A graveyard is any place set aside for long-term burial of the dead, with or without monuments such as headstones...
and church site was moved to the mainland. As a matter of fact, the soil conditions were so bad at the earlier church site that funeral parties
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
transported masses of soil by boat to the graveyard.
The beautiful location of the previous church on the point above the harbour was a navigational landmark for ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s. When the present church was to be built, people demanded a similarly beautiful location. At Rugsund, the church was centrally located with the main entrance facing the sea, and with an excellent view from the church steps across the sound
Sound (geography)
In geography a sound or seaway is a large sea or ocean inlet larger than a bay, deeper than a bight and wider than a fjord; or it may be defined as a narrow sea or ocean channel between two bodies of land ....
to the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
. The churchyard
Churchyard
A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....
encircles the church, and furthest down to the sea, there is a stately gate that the seafarers in earlier times walked through on their way to church. This was also the place where the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
went ashore when he came by boat from Davik
Davik
Davik is a village and former municipality in the traditional district of Nordfjord in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The former municipality of Davik was located in parts of the present-day municipalities of Vågsøy, Bremanger, and Eid. The administrative center of the former municipality was...
.