Torpo Stave Church

Torpo Stave Church (Norwegian: Torpo stavkyrkje) is a stave church located in Torpo, a small village in Ål municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. Torpo is located along Norwegian National Road 7, the Norwegian national road which runs between Oslo and Bergen.^[1]

History[edit]

Built in 1192, the Torpo Stave Church is the oldest building within the valley and traditional district of Hallingdal. The church was dedicated to Saint Margareta. The stave church was purchased by the municipality in 1875. It was initially planned to expand it with an annex to the east, but in 1879 it was decided instead to modernize the interior with new ceiling and gallery. Following protest from the Ancient Monuments Society (Fortidsminneforeningen), the municipality decided to build a new church (Torpo Kyrkje) on the adjacent property. The new church was built north of the old one with the two churches standing side by side.^[2]^[3]

Runic inscription N 110[edit]

The Torpo Stave Church is one of two stave churches that are signed by their craftsmen, the other being the church at Ål. In both churches a runic inscription reads: Thorolf built this church.^[4] The full runic inscription in the Torpo Stave Church, which is listed as N 110 in the Rundata catalog, reads:

§A þorolfr : gærþi : kirku þesa ÷: askrimr ÷ hakon ÷ ælikr ÷ pal ¶ æinriþi ÷ siønti ÷ þorolfr

§B þorer ÷ ræist

§C olafr^[5]

This translates as "Þórolfr made this church. Ásgrímr, Hákon, Erlingr, Páll, Eindriði, Sjaundi, Þórulfr. Þórir carved. Ólafr."^[5]

Gallery[edit]

Torpo Stave Church
Main portal
Torpo Stave Church
South portal
Torpo Stave Church
Interior
Torpo Stave Church
Interior
Torpo Stave Church
Interior detail
Torpo Stave Church
Exterior
Torpo Stave Church
Exterior
Torpo Church and Torpo Stave Church (1880–1890)

References[edit]

^ "Torpo stavkirke (Olavsrosa)". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
^ Torpo Kirke (Norsk Institutt for kulturminneforskning)^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Middelaldermaleriet i Torpo stavkirke (University of Oslo, 2007)^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Ål kommune: Torpo stavkirke / Torpo Stabkirche og Torpo kyrkje (Bilder av stavkirken)". Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
^ ^a ^b Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk Archived 7 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Rundata entry for N 110.

External links[edit]

60°39′51″N 8°42′30″E / 60.66417°N 8.70833°E / 60.66417; 8.70833

[1] "Torpo stavkirke (Olavsrosa)". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2010.

[2] Torpo Kirke (Norsk Institutt for kulturminneforskning)^{[permanent dead link]}

[3] Middelaldermaleriet i Torpo stavkirke (University of Oslo, 2007)^{[permanent dead link]}

[4] "Ål kommune: Torpo stavkirke / Torpo Stabkirche og Torpo kyrkje (Bilder av stavkirken)". Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2010.

[N110-5] Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk Archived 7 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Rundata entry for N 110.

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[2]

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v t e Stave churches
Old Norwegian churches	Borgund Stave Church Eidsborg Stave Church Flesberg Stave Church Garmo Stave Church Gol Stave Church Grip Stave Church Haltdalen Stave Church Hedalen Stave Church Heddal Stave Church Hegge Stave Church Hopperstad Stave Church Høre Stave Church Høyjord Stave Church Kaupanger Stave Church Kvernes Stave Church Lomen Stave Church Lom Stave Church Nore Stave Church Øye Stave Church Reinli Stave Church Ringebu Stave Church Rollag Stave Church Rødven Stave Church Røldal Stave Church Torpo Stave Church Undredal Stave Church Urnes Stave Church Uvdal Stave Church
Other notable churches	Vang Stave Church Hedared stave church Greensted Church Skaga stave church Gustav Adolf Stave Church Fantoft Stave Church Fåvang Stave Church Chapel in the Hills
List of	stave churches in Norway later stave churches and replicas archaeological sites and dismantled stave churches
Related	Architecture of Norway Vernacular Black metal-related church arson by Varg Vikernes Heathen hof Medieval Scandinavian architecture

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
Artists	KulturNav

History[edit]

Runic inscription N 110[edit]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]