In Norwegian
Search
Cultural Heritage

Churchyard with remnants from Grinaker stave church. Some distance from the pilgrim path.

Grinaker church was probably built in the early 12th century. Originally the church was a minor stave church. The church was later expanded into a cruciform church with a bell tower. The churchyard had several entrances, probably with masonry of stone and covered portals. The yard, located on Grinaker farmland, is surrounded by a beautiful stone wall. Traces of the stave church are indicated. Open-air service is being celebrated every summer. .

Grinaker church was a "lovekirke", that is, it completely was maintained by the voluntary donations.

The church was a parish church that had room for more than one hundred people. The last service was held in this church on 10th may 1866. The church was demolished the following year, when it was too small by the law. This law decided in 1851 that churches should hold a certain portion of the population of the parish. After a visitation meeting in 1858, it was declared that all churches in Gran was too small. Since Grinaker church was badly maintained, it was decided to build a new church. It was named Tingelstad church and was completed in 1866. This church is located about one kilometer south of the stave church.

Grinaker church had very rich interior, and the majority were moved over to Tingelstad "new" church in 1866. There we find a pulpit, a baptismal font and two large flanking wooden figures. A pulpit from the 17th century was taken over by Bønsnes Church on Ringerike long before the church was demolished. An altarpiece from the 17th century are located in Sørum church in Bjoneroa. Most of the interior that could not be used in other churches were sent to what is now the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo. Grinaker Church holds a unique position among the many churches that were demolished in the last century, since almost all the interior was relocated in a time when so much was destroyed.

Building Parts from Grinaker church were reused mainly to build the barn Klokkerlåven. Some materials were also used for outbuildings on other farms in the district.