Rollag Stave Church

Rollag Stave Church is the second church along the road in the historic Numedal Valley. The valley has the largest number of medieval wooden buildings in Norway. If you drive up the valley from Kongsberg to Geilo, you’ll pass many of these ancient buildings.

The stave church is just off the highway and north of the village of Rollag. Moreover, while it has undergone many changes since it was built, it’s still well worth visiting.

History of Rollag Stave Church

An old photo of Rollag Stave Church. Likely early 20th century. (Source)

It’s believed the first church in Rollag stood here around the second half of the 12th century. Moreover, the church we have today may be the second one on the site. Rollag Stave Church is in documents from 1425. The church is older than that, though.

The most famous parish priest is the Danish Knut Jørgensen Winter. He came from Jutland in 1651 to be the priest and his first task was to rebuild the church. Winter first painted the inside and added benches and windows. He also had a new choir and altarpiece built. On the outside of the church, he had the monogram of Christian V placed on the wall. The church is unique for its heavy Danish influence.

Later restorations expanded and changed the church dramatically. During the last restoration, attempts were made to bring it closer to Winter’s 17th century church.

Architecture

Rollag Stave Church is a single nave simple stave church. This is the most basic type of stave church construction. It has a square nave. It has four outer corner staves supporting the structure.

In 1660, Rollag was rebuilt as a cruciform church, which was the style of the time. Cruciform churches have a floor-plan of a cross. Almost everything was replaced, though the original staves are still in place. They are just hidden under the modern construction. Further expansions took place in the 17th and 18th centuries. The nave is longer, the church received a porch, and the roof was raised.

The last major restoration took place in 1932. They brought the church back to an earlier style.

While there isn’t much of the original church left, Rollag is still regarded as one of the most beautiful rural churches. A unique feature of the church is that every generation has left their mark. They have expanded and rebuilt the church as they needed, demolished and painted walls. They have added and removed bits from the church to suit their needs.

Exterior Decoration

Much of the exterior is from the 17th/18th century restoration. The windows, tower, and extensions are not from the original stave church. If you are looking for the original church, it’s the core centre.

A unique feature of the church is the monogram outside. The outer wall monogram of Christian V is from 1697. The board also has the inscription ‘IHS’ at the top (Iesus Hominum Salvator – Jesus, Saviour of Men). This monogram is the first carved in wood in the Numedal Valley.

Interior Decoration

If you are lucky enough to see the inside of the church, you’re in for a treat. Rollag Stave Church is generally regarded as having one of the most beautiful interiors.

The decoration is a mix of every generation that has passed through the church. There is art from the early Middle Ages through the baroque and rococo periods right up to the modern day.

Rollag Stave Church interior (Source: LokalHistorieWiki)

Benches were never inside stave churches. In Catholic times, you had to stand up and listen to the service, which was in Latin. Benches are a Lutheran addition. Also, the service was in Danish in the Lutheran times.

The interior is richly painted. For example, on the choir you’ll see depictions of foliage and exotic fruit. These paintings represent the fruits of paradise. Interestingly, the paintings are Catholic motifs that they painted during Lutheran times. Additionally, the altarpiece has a relief of the eucharist. This is a casting of a silver relief found in Frederiksborg Castle Church in Denmark.

The pulpit is the first rococo artifact in Numedal. Most importantly, it has one panel for each of the four evangelists. The fifth panel has the inscription “Painted in 1763 by E. Dram”. He worked on decorations in Kongsberg Church and Veggli Stave Church.

In the 1770s, all the interior wall decorations were painted over in blue paint. They were uncovered again in the 1932 restoration.

What makes this church different than others?

I find this church is unique when it comes to its Danish influence. Not architectural influence, but rather the decorations both inside and out.

Around the church

The stone wall around Rollag Stave Church

In the cemetery you’ll see an old stone wall. Some stone slabs have a rather ring for horses. Moreover, the birch trees were planted along the wall in 1936. Some graves are from the early 19th century. The church used to have a tomb cellar under the choir, but it was filled in with sand in 1870.

Also in the cemetery, close to the Christian V monogram, is an ancient stone cross. It’s not known when this was placed here or why. One theory is that this site was an ancient gathering place for Christians before they got a church. Close by is the historic Rollag farmstead, and it’s known that churches were built on the wealthiest properties.

Close by is the Rollag Vicarage. It has six buildings and is heritage listed. The oldest part is from 1630, and the bishop’s home is from 1720. It still is the parish priests residence and is therefore private property. Just south of the church is the disused Numedalsbanen.

The church today

Rollag Stave Church is still owned by the congregation and still functions as the parish church. Every other Sunday from March to November, the congregation comes here. The villagers are very proud of their church, and rightly so!

During the summer months, between mid-June and mid-August, the church is open to the public daily from 11am to 5pm.

Visiting Rollag Stave Church

When driving on the Fv40 (the main road through the Numedal Valley), you’ll see the turnoff for the church – it’s marked as a brown sign. Note that it’s in Norwegian, so it says “Rollag stavkirke”. The church is 6km off the main highway, and you drive through beautiful farmland. The road you’ll drive on is Rollagsvegen, and you don’t need to go back to this turn-off after visiting the church. I recommend following Rollagsvegen until it rejoins the Fv40. It’s such a beautiful drive.

You will see a tiny parking place when approaching the church, but if you drive past it you’ll reach a larger parking lot. Parking is free.