Bakke Church

Bakke Church (Bakke kirke) is an octagonal wooden church in Bakklandet, the old timber-house quarter on the east bank of the Nidelva river in Trondheim, Norway. It is one of the city's most distinctive small churches, and it is still used for worship today.

What is Bakke Church and who built it?

The church dates from the early 18th century. Peder Krog, bishop of Trondheim and owner of the Bakke farm, initiated the project, and the building was designed by Johan Christopher Hempel. The Hospitalskirken, another Trondheim church, served as its model. Its eight-sided plan gives it a compact, almost centralised shape that sets it apart from the long rectangular churches common in Norway.

Why was it first called Anna Dorothea Church?

The original name honoured the bishop's wife, Anna Dorothea. Locals, however, soon began calling it "Bakk'kjerka", a plain dialect form of "Bakke church", and that everyday name is the one that survived. Today the official and popular names are effectively the same.

What makes its history special?

In 1718 Swedish forces besieged Trondheim, and the districts outside the city centre were set on fire to deny cover to the attackers. According to local history sources, Bakke Church was the only building in Bakklandet to survive. That makes it a rare physical link to the earliest days of the neighbourhood, which otherwise was rebuilt over the following decades.

From a farm church to a parish church

For its first century and a half, the church was a modest place of worship tied to the Bakke estate and the surrounding settlement. In 1846-1847 the Bakklandet parish was established, and Bakke Church became its main and only parish church. It remains an active church in the Church of Norway, with seating for several hundred people, and it holds regular services as well as concerts and other parish events.

What can you see when you visit?

The main attraction is the exterior and the setting. The octagonal timber building stands among the colourful wooden houses, cafes and small shops of Bakklandet, an area that is pleasant to explore on foot. The church is a good stop on a walk that also takes in the Old Town Bridge (Gamle Bybro) and the riverfront. Because it is a working parish church, interior access depends on service times and events, so it is worth checking the parish's schedule before planning a visit.

Where is it?

The church lies in central Trondheim, at roughly 63.433 N, 10.410 E, within easy walking distance of the city centre and the cathedral area. It is reachable on foot across the Old Town Bridge in a few minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bakke Church the same as other churches named Bakke? No. Norway has several churches called Bakke, in Agder, Buskerud and elsewhere. This one is in Trondheim, in Trøndelag county.

Is it still in use? Yes. It serves as a parish church of the Church of Norway.

Why is it octagonal? The eight-sided plan follows the model of the Hospitalskirken, which Hempel used as his inspiration.

Who was Anna Dorothea? She was the wife of Bishop Peder Krog, and the church's first name honoured her.

Is it worth a visit? Yes, especially as part of a stroll through Bakklandet, for its architecture and its survival of the 1718 siege.