 |
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||
 |
Norway Stavanger Saint Petri Church 
Located in the centre of Stavanger close to the Cathedral, St. Petri church is situated on the site of a previous church which dates back to the 1270s. The original church was constructed when King Magnus VI (1263 - 1280) determined that there would be a new church built in Stavanger that was dedicated to St. Peter. The current church of Saint Petri was design by architect Conrad Fredrik von der Lippe and was completed and officially opened in 1866. Built of red bricks in the long church style, which consists of a single rectangular (elongated) room used by the congregation as the nave, The choir uses a narrower room with a lower ceiling which is attached to the main body. The church has seating for 900 people. The main steeple measures 39 meters high and contains three bells which were cast in Stavanger.  By 1887 it was noted that the walls and pillars were beginning to slant outwards. Work was carried out to install a set of metal bars in order to prevent any further movement and these bars can be seen across the nave. In 1912, work was carried out to cover the gables with copper and for the installation of electricity. The two steeples were covered with copper in 1961. A grant was made by the council for a new organ in 1917 in order to replace the original one completed in 1866, although the work on this didn’t start until 1921. This itself was replaced in 1977 and has its pipes located above the entrance.  The interior underwent renovation in 1966 which included the change of the interior colouring. The interior was restored to its original colouring in a major restoration project between 2005-2008 for which it received the English Architecture Civic Trust Award for the major restoration and renewal work that was carried out. It was also at that time upgraded to enable it to accommodate concerts and social activities. Over the years additional work has been carried out which included the construction of offices, a congregation hall, and meeting rooms located at the rear of the church.  The pews were also rebuilt to improve comfort. On entry visitors are struck by the openness of the church with its high ceiling and ornated timber work. Similar to that found in Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster in London.  At the far end of the nave, on the altar is the statue of Christ showing him greeting his disciples after he had risen and showing them the wounds in his hands. This statue was originally housed in the cathedral, but it was decided to move it here when the church was being constructed. In 2008 the statue underwent restoration.  Around the sides are a number of striking paintings situated at ground level and above at first-floor level.    |
 |
|
 |
|||
All Photographs were taken by and are copyright of Ron Gatepain
| Site Map |