Location Samnanger, Hordaland Denomination Church of Norway Functional status Active Address 5652 Årland, Norway Capacity 250 | Country Norway Churchmanship Evangelical Lutheran Architect(s) Andreas Grønning Opened 1851 Status Parish church | |
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Diocese Lutheran Diocese of Bjørgvin Similar Norheimsund Church, Øystese Church, Skare Church, Strandebarm Church, Ålvik Church | ||
Samnanger Church (Norwegian: Samnanger kyrkje) is a parish church in Samnanger municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Årland. The church is part of the Samnanger parish in the Hardanger og Voss deanery in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The white, wooden, octagonal church was built in 1851 by the architect Andreas Grønning. The church seats about 250 people.
History
The first church at Samnanger was built during the Middle Ages. It may have been a stave church, but little is known of it. It may have been built as early as the 12th century. In 1652, that church was replaced with a new timber-framed church. That church was long and narrow—about 18 by 8.5 metres (59 by 28 ft). That church was replaced in 1851 with the present church building. It was designed by Andreas Grønning who gave it a basilica style, but also gave it an octagonal floor plan.