Kirkeøy

Kirkeøy is the largest island in the Norwegian municipality of Hvaler. Its name means "church island" and is derived from Hvaler Church which is on the island and is also the main church of the municipality. The island is 29,6 km2 and has 1098 inhabitants as of 2001. The island's topography is distinguished by outcrops and forests. To the south of the island lies the village of Skjærhalden, which is also the administrative centre of the municipality. There are a lot of holiday cottages on the island, which is a popular destination for tourists in the summer. The island is since 1989 connected with the mainland through an underwater tunnel to Asmaløy. From Asmaløy there are bridges to Fredrikstad.

Map of Kirke%C3%B8y, 1680 Skj%C3%A6rhalden, Norway

Hvaler Church (Hvaler Kirke) is a medieval era church, probably begun about ca. 1000-1100. Hvaler Church is the main church of the archipelago. It is a stone church with a rectangular nave and narrow choir and apse. The pulpit is from the 1600s. In 1750 the church received a new altar which in 1759 was supplemented with an altarpiece mounted on the altar. Between 1953 and 1955 the church went through a thorough restoration led by antiquarian Håkon Christie in connection with the church's restoration. The J. H. Jorgensen organ is from 1955.