Stave church
Construction
Gol stave church, belonging to the Borgund group. The drawing is a bit erroneous, as the sill under the church floor is missing
Archaeological excavations have shown that stave churches, best represented today by the Borgund stave church, descend from palisade constructions and later churches with earth-bound posts.
Similar palisade constructions are known from buildings from the Viking era. Logs were split in two halves, rammed into the ground and given a roof. This was a simple construction yet very strong. If set in gravel the wall could last for decades, even centuries. Remains of buildings of this type are found over much of Europe. An archaeological excavation in Lund uncovered the post holes of several such churches.
In later buildings the walls were supported by sills, leaving only the corner posts earth-bound post churches. Such churches are easy to spot at archaeological sites as they leave very distinct holes where the posts were once placed. Sometimes the remains are even preserved, which makes it possible to give a very good dating of the church building. Under Urnes stave church remains have been found of two such churches, with Christian graves discovered below the oldest church.
A single church with a palisade construction has been refound as a floor in another medieval church, the Hemse stave church. This church used a palisade wall, yet the walls were supported on sills. One other church, the Greensted Church is also described as a palisade church, but is most probably of Saxon origins.
Borgund stave church Floorplan of the church, depicting the lower frame
The next phase resulted from the observation that earth-bound posts are susceptible to humidity, which will cause them to rot away over time. To prevent this the posts were placed on top of large stones, significantly increasing their lifespan. The stave church in Rldal is believed to be of this type.
In still later churches, the posts were set on a raised sill frame, resting on stone foundations. This is the stave church in its most mature form.
It is now common to group the churches into two categories; the first without free-standing posts, often referred to as Type A, and the other with a raised roof and with free-standing internal posts, usually termed Type B.
Those with the raised roof, Type B, are often further divided in two subgroups; the Kaupanger group with a whole arcade row of posts and intermediate posts along the sides and details mimicking stone like capital. These churches give an impression of a basilica.
The other subgroup is the Borgund group. These churches have cross braces joining upper and lower string beams and the posts, forming a very rigid interconnection, and resembling the triforium of stone basilicas. This makes it possible to omit the freestanding lower part of intermediate posts. In some churches in Valdres, only the four corner posts have been retained (see image of Lomen stave church).
Many stave churches had or still have outer galleries running around the whole perimeter, loosely connected to the plank walls. They probably served to protect the church from a harsh climate, and for processions.
Single nave church, Type A
Reinli stave church with the old pillory, Sr-Aurdal
At the base of Type A churches there are four heavy sill beams on a low foundation of stones. These are interconnected in the corner notch, forming a rigid sill frame. The corner posts or staves (stavene) are cross-cut at the lower end and fit over the corner notches and cover them, thereby protecting them from moisture.
On top of the sill beam is a groove, into which the lower ends of the wall planks (veggtilene) fit. The last wall plank wedge-shaped and rammed into place. When the wall is filled in with planks, the frame is completed by a wall plate (stavlgje) with a groove on the bottom side, holding the top ends of the wall planks. The whole structure consists of frames a sill frame resting on the stone foundation, and the four wall frames made up of sills, corner posts and wall plate.
The wall plates support the roof trusses, consisting of a pair of principal rafters and an additional pair of intersecting “scissor rafters”. For lateral bracing, additional wooden brackets (bueknr) are inserted between the rafters.
Every piece is locked into position by other pieces, making for a very rigid construction. Yet all points otherwise susceptible to the harsh weather is covered.
The single nave church has a square nave and a narrower square choir. This type of stave church was common at the beginning of the 12th century.
The long church, (Langkirke), has a rectangular plan with nave and choir of the same width. The nave will usually take up two thirds of the whole length. This type was common at the end of 13th century.
Center post church, (Midtmastkirke) has a single central post reaching all the way up and connected with the roof construction. But the roof is a simple hipped one, without the raised central part of the Type B churches. This variation on the common type of church in Numedal and Hallingdal, dated to around 1200.
Single nave churches in Norway: Grip, Haltdalen, Undredal, Hedal, Reinli, Eidsborg, Rollag, Uvdal, Nore, Hyjord, Rldal and Garmo.
The only remaining church in Sweden, in Hedared, is of this type and shows similarities with the one from Haltdalen.
Church with a raised roof, Type B
Interior from Lomen stave church depicting cross braces between upper and lower string beams and posts. Intermediate posts have been omitted.
On the stone foundation four huge beams (grunnstokker) are placed like a # sign, their ends protruding 1-2 metres from the notches where they intersect. The ends of these beams support the sills of the outer walls, forming a separate horizontal frame. The tall internal posts are placed on the internal frame of large beams, and carry the main roof above the central space nave (skip). On the outer frame of sills rest the main wall planks (veggtiler), carrying the roof over the pentice or aisles (omgang) surrounding the central space. The roof thus tapers down in two steps, as in a basilica.
The tall internal posts (staver) are interconnected with brackets (bueknr), and also connected to the outer walls with aisle rafters, creating a laterally rigid construction. Closer to the top of the posts (staver) shorter sills inserted between them support the upper wall (tilevegg). On top of the posts wall plates (stavlgjer) support the roof trusses, similar to those of the single nave churches.
The Kaupanger group consists of: Kaupanger, Urnes, Hopperstad and Lom.
The Borgund group consists of: Borgund, Gol, Hegge, Hre (Hurum), Lomen, Ringebu and ye.
This form of church can also be recognized from the holes which remain from earlier earth-bound post churches built on the same sites. Little is known about what these older churches actually looked like, or how they were constructed, as they were all destroyed or replaced many centuries ago.
History
Jelling church stone in Denmark
Portal in column from Borgund stavkirke
Portal in side wall from Hedal stavkirke
Arch decoration from Urnes stavkirke
Lion on arch decoration from Borgund stavkirke
Stave churches were once common in Northern Europe. In Norway alone, a total of about 1000 churches are believed to have been built, although more recent research has adjusted this number upwards and it is now assumed to have been closer to 2000 . The number of stave churches constructed in other countries in Europe and in Iceland are unknown.
Some believe they were the first type of church to be constructed in Scandinavia; however, there existed an even older type called post churches, although the difference between the two is very small. A stave church has a lower construction set on a frame, whereas a post church has earth-bound posts. In Sweden, the stave churches were considered to be obsolete in the Middle Ages and were replaced. In Norway, they were not replaced as quickly as they were in Sweden and England. Many stave churches survived until the 19th century, when a substantial number were destroyed.
In Norway, 29 historical stave churches remain standing. There are also a number of places where there have been archaeological surveys uncovering older post churches. There are also some newer stave churches at various locations.
In Denmark, traces of post churches have been found at several locations, and there are also parts still in existence from some of them. A plank of one such church was found in Jutland. The plank is now on display at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen and an attempt at reconstructing the church is a featured display at the Moesgaard Museum near Aarhus. Marks created by several old post churches have also been found at the old stone church in Jelling.
In Sweden there is a medieval stave church, the Hedared stave church constructed c. 1500, at the same location as a previous older stave church. Other notable places are Maria Minor church in Lund with its traces of a post church with palisades, and some old parts of Hemse stave church on Gotland. In Skne alone there were around 300 churches when Adam of Bremen visited Denmark in the first half of the 11th century, how many of those were stave churches or post churches is unknown.
In England, there is one much debated church of Saxon origin, and the debate is whether this is a stave church or if it predates stave churches. This is the Greensted Church in Essex. General consensus is to categorize it as Saxon [A]. There is also another church in England which bears similarities to stave churches, this is the medieval stone church of St. Mary in Kilpeck in Herefordshire. This church features a number of dragon heads.
In Germany, there is one stone church with a motif depicting a dragon similar to the ones often seen on Norwegian stave churches, and on a remaining artifact from Denmark and also from Gotland. Whether this decoration can be attributed to cultural similarities or whether it indicates similar construction methods in Germany has sparked much controversy.
There is some folklore suggesting that the stave churches were built upon old indigenous Norse religious ground. Only at one single location there seems to be possible to trace a connection, and that is at Mre church in Norway. At one corner of the churchyard there are found remnants of another house, and this house could be connected to Norse paganism. In other cases there is evidence of much older churches built on the same ground, often the stones are still left in the holes created by the posts of an older post church, and under Urnes stave church there have even been discovered remains of two such earlier post churches. The old portal from one of these churches is believed to be the one built into the northern wall of the current church. Newer research indicates thus that Christianity was introduced into Norway much earlier than was previously assumed.
Architecture and decoration
Portal detail from Tnjum stave church
Even though the wooden churches had structural differences, they give a recognizable general impression. Formal differences may hide common features of their planning; while apparently similar buildings may turn out to have their structural elements organized completely differently. Despite this, certain basic principles must have been common to all types of building.
Basic geometrical figures, numbers that were easy to work with, one or just a few length units and simple ratios, and perhaps proportions as well were among the theoretical aids all builders inherited. The specialist was the man who knew a particular type of building so well that he could systematize its elements in a slightly different way from what was the case in the buildings known hitherto, thus carrying developments a stage further.
Dating of churches
The dating of such buildings may be done in different ways, by historical records, inscriptions, by stylistic means on construction details or ornaments, dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating. Often historical records or inscriptions will point to a year when the church is known to have existed. Archaeological excavations can yield finds which can provide relative dating for the structure, whereas absolute dating methods such as radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology can provide a more exact date. One drawback of dendrochronology is that it tends to overlook the possibility that the wood could have been reused from an older structure, or may have been felled and left for many years before use.
A very important problem with dating of the churches is that the solid ground sills are those construction elements that is most likely to have the outer parts of the log still preserved. Still they are most susceptible to humidity and as people back then reused building parts the churches can have been rebuilt several times. If so, a dendrochronological dating can be based upon a log from a later reconstruction.
The old stave churches
Norway
Borgund stave church, Sogn og Fjordane, end of the 12th century
Eidsborg stave church, Telemark, the middle of the 13th century
Flesberg stave church in Flesberg, Buskerud, built around 1200
Fvang stave church in Ringebu, Oppland, rebuilt in 1630 (two old churches rebuilt as one)
Garmo stave church, Oppland, around 1150
Gol stave church in Gol (now at Norsk Folkemuseum), Buskerud, built 1212
Grip stave church, Mre og Romsdal, second half of the 15th century
Haltdalen stave church, Sr-Trndelag, 1170 – 1179
Hedal stave church, Oppland, the second half of the 12th century
Heddal stave church, Telemark, the beginning of the 13th century
Hegge stave church, Oppland, 1216
Hopperstad stave church, Sogn og Fjordane, 1140
Hre stave church, Oppland, 1180
Hyjord stave church, Andebu, Vestfold, second half of the 12th century
Kaupanger stave church, Sogn og Fjordane, 1190
Kvernes stave church, Mre og Romsdal, second half of the 14th century
Lomen stave church, Oppland, 1179
Lom stave church, Oppland, 1158
Nore stave church in Nore og Uvdal, Buskerud, built 1167
ye stave church, Oppland, second half of the 12th century
Reinli stave church, Oppland, 1190
Ringebu stave church, Oppland, the first quarter of the 13th century
Rollag stave church in Rollag, Buskerud, built second half of the 12th century
Rdven stave church, Mre og Romsdal, around 1200
Rldal stave church, Hordaland, first half of the 13th century (could be a post church)
Torpo stave church in l, Buskerud, built 1192
Undredal stave church, Sogn og Fjordane, the middle of the 12th century
Urnes stave church, Sogn og Fjordane, first half of the 12th century (On UNESCO World Heritage List)
Uvdal stave church in Uvdal, Buskerud, built 1168
Stave church at Hedared, Sweden
Poland
Vang stave church moved to Poland (no longer on the official list due to the reconstruction)
Sweden
Hedared stave church in Sweden, ca 1500 on the site of an earlier stave church (not on the official Norwegian list)
England
Greensted church, 845 or 1053 (a church of Saxon origin, sharing a lot of construction details with stave churches)
Later stave churches and replicas
Stave churches are a very popular phenomenon and several are built or rebuilt around the world. The two most copied are Borgund and Hedared, with some variations, and sometimes with adoptions to add elements from known stave churches from the area. In other places they are of a more free form, and built for display.
The full list of later stave churches and replicas
Sweden
Skaga stave church in Treboda, Vstra Gtaland county, built in the 12th century, torn down in the 19th century, rebuilt in the 1950s, burnt down, and rebuilt again in 2001
Saint Olaf’s chapel in Hardemo, Svealand, built 1766 – 1767
Iceland
Heimaey stave church at Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar, built 2000
St. Swithun’s, a stave church in Warren County, Indiana.
USA
Chapel in the Hills in Rapid City, South Dakota
Boynton Chapel at Bjorklunden, Door County, Wisconsin
Hopperstad replica stave church in Moorhead, Minnesota
Trinity Lutheran Church’s at Washington Island, Wisconsin
St. Swithun’s in Warren County, Indiana.
Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minot, North Dakota.
Norway
Fantoft stave church, around 1150, arsoned 1992 and rebuilt in 1997 (no longer on the official list)
Haltdalen stave church (replica), copy of the old church, now at Sverresborg museum
Gol stave church (replica), replica erected in the 1990s at another (improbable) site in the community from which Gol stave church was translocated in the 1880s.
Germany
Gustav Adolf stave church in Hahnenklee, Harz landscape, Germany
Archaeological sites and dismantled churches
Many stave churches are now long gone.
The full list of archaeological sites and dismantled stave churches
Iceland
Thorarinsstadir archaeological excavation in Seyisfjrur, east Iceland (Post church which predates stave church)
Norway
Hakastein church, Skien. Archaeological excavation of post church – constructed between 1010-1040.
St.Thomas Church, Filefjell
Vg stave church (portal from an old church)
Sweden
Maria Minor church in Lund built around 1060
See also
Wooden Churches of Maramure (not stave churches)
Kizhi – the open-air museum of Russian wooden architecture
Architecture of Norway
Norway (Epcot)
References
Directorate for Cultural Heritage, Stave Churches
Anker, Peter, Stavkirkene, Deres egenart og historie, Oslo 1997, ISBN 82-02-15978-4
Mereth Lindgren, Louise Lydberg, Birgitta Sandstrm and Anna Greta Waklberg, Svensk Konsthistoria, Kristianstad 2002, ISBN 91-87896-52-4
Bugge, Gunnar og Mezzanotte, Bernardino, Stavkirker, Oslo 1993, ISBN 82-504-2072-1
Bugge, Gunnar, Stavkirkene i Norge, Oslo 1981, ISBN 82-09-01890-6
Hoftun, Oddgeir, Stavkirkene – og det norske middelaldersamfunnet, Copenhagen 2002, ISBN 87-21-01977-0.
Hoftun, Oddgeir, Stabkirchen – und die mittelalterliche Gesellschaft Norwegens / Text: Oddgeir Hoftun; Fotos: Grard Franceschi; Konzeption: Asger Jorn; [bersetzt aus dem Dnischen von Irmelin Mai Hoffer und Reinald Nohal unter Mitarbeit von Sarah Majken Hoffer], Kln 2003: Knig; ISBN 3-88375-526-5.
Hoftun, Oddgeir, Kristningsprosessens og herskermaktens ikonografi i nordisk middelalder, Oslo 2008, ISBN 978-82-560-1619-8.
Hohler, Erla Bergendahl, Norwegian Stave Church Sculpture, volume 1-2 Oslo 1999,ISBN 82-00-12748-6
Hauglid, Roar, Norske Stavkirker, Oslo 1973, multipart work
Lagerlf, Erland and Svahnstrm, Gunnar, Gotlands Kyrkor, Kristianstad 1991 ISBN 91-29-61598-4
Elstad, Hallgeir, Dei norske stavkyrkjene – ei innfring, Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo, curriculum 2002
Note that the author Roar Hauglid has an enormous production and this (7) is just one of several with similar titles. Other books from the author include: Norwegische Stabkirchen, Oslo 1970, ISBN 82-09-00938-9 and Norwegian stave churches, Oslo 1970
Footnote
A semi-official list of Norwegian stave churches which comply to specific criteria
This list is a rough guide to say which one is in a shape to be used as a reference for research purposes
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Stave churches in Norway
The stave churches of Norway
Stave Church – Medieval Wooden Churches in Norway
Research in Medieval, Norwegian Wooden Churches, Relevance of Available Sources
From Vitruvius to Alberti: Systematic Thinking in medieval church design
The “Inverse design problem” in Medieval Wooden Churches of Norway
Dendrochronology
Animals in the middle ages from the Medieval Bestiary
Stavkyrkor from Historiska Vrlder in Swedish
The Norwegian Medieval Stave Church partly in Norwegian, English and Deutch
stave churches owned by the Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments
The Uvdal stave church on Youtube
Google map of Norwegian stave churches
Categories: Church architecture | Types of churches | Stave churches | Scandinavia
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