Church

Oslo Cathedral

Situated along Gudbrandsdalsleden

Foto: www.wikipedia.no

Oslo Cathedral (previoulsly Our Savior's church) was inaugurated in 1697 as the city's third cathedral. Originally built in the style of baroque, the church got neo-gothic interior in 1850. In 1950 the church was renovated back again to its original baroque style.

Address

Karl Johans gate 11, 0154 Oslo

Online

http://www.oslodomkirke.no/

Address

Karl Johansgate 11, 0154 Oslo

Opening hours

Sunday Service: 11am

Open for visits:
Monday – Thursday 10am – 4pm
Friday 4pm – 11.30 pm
Saturday 10am – 4pm
Sunday 1pm – 4 pm

The church is a cruciform church where the east-west-going vessel forms the main nave, with altar in the eastern part and pipe organ in the west. The altarpiece and the pulpit was put in place shortly after the inauguration in 1697, but the Great Northern War (1709-1720) put a halt to further work on the interior. Not until the 1720s was the church's first pipe organ in place, built by Lambert Daniel Karsten, as well as galleries and alcoves along the walls. The tower clock, which was installed in 1718, is the country's oldest working church clock.

The church has undergone several major changes. The most important is the rebuilding that took place in the 1850s, under the leadership of architect Alexis de Chateauneuf. The church got its present tower with bronze spire, which since has been a familiar skyline in the city. The masons used Dutch brick, but were unable to obtain enough. Red brick therefore had to be used, which still can be seen in the church's facade today. During the rebuilding the church also got its royal entrance to the south, built in the same red brick.

Inside, the church retained its baroque interior throughout the 18th century, but in tune with the 1850-era aesthetic trend all baroque fixtures, with the exception of the organ facade, were removed from the church. The church was refurnished in neo-Gothic interior, and became influential in the development of the neo-Gothic style in the country. The style would eventually dominate all the new churches in the capital, with West Aker Church as the first in 1855.

In connection with Oslo's 900-year anniversary in 1950, the church was refurnished to its original baroque interior under the architect Arnstein Arneberg's leadership. The altarpiece, pulpit and baptismal font was brought back from the Museum of Decorative arts and Design and the Priest's church at Majorstua. Hugo Lous Mohr's large ceiling paintings were created in the years 1936 - 50. The chapel on the south side was designed by architect Arneberg and was completed in 1950.

Today, the church is the main church of Oslo diocese and parish church of the city center. It is also the national church of Norway and host of a long series of national and royal events. The Oslo Cathedral is also the Deans ward.