Elverhøy Church

Elverhøy Church (Elverhøy kirke) is a wooden parish church in Tromsø, northern Norway, belonging to the Church of Norway. Its story is unusual: the building has been moved wholesale from one site to another, and its origins reach back to the early 19th century. Today it serves the Elverhøy parish and is a rewarding stop for anyone interested in northern timber architecture.

What is Elverhøy Church?

It is the church of the Elverhøy parish, part of the Tromsø arch-deanery (domprosti) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland. It stands on the island of Tromsøya, in the city of Tromsø in Troms county. The nave seats about 435 people, which makes it a mid-sized church, suited to Sunday services as well as larger family occasions.

Where did this church come from?

The original timber building went up in the early 1800s, around 1803, replacing an even older church from the early 18th century. It stood on the spot where Tromsø Cathedral stands today. When the cathedral was completed in 1861, the old church was taken down there and moved to a site south of the town centre. It was reconsecrated in 1863 under the name Tromsøysund kirke.

The second move came in the 1970s. Preparations began in the late 1960s, the foundation stone for the new site at Elverhøy was laid in 1973, and dismantling and reassembly continued until the middle of the decade. Sources differ on details: some give 1974 as the year of the move to the present site, others 1975. The church was reconsecrated in late 1975.

What does the building look like?

The church is built of timber using log construction and clad in vertical panelling. A sturdy steeple is integrated into the half-timbered framework. The nave roof is covered in clay tiles, and the top of the tower in copper. The walls are painted bright red with white trim, and the windows have white lancet-arched frames. Against winter snow, that colour is especially striking.

What is inside?

The interior holds items much older than the church's current location. The altarpiece dates from 1689 and was donated by Jon Steffenssøn Kiil, and the pulpit is from 1711. These are valuable traces of the region's earlier churches that survived each relocation.

Practical information

• Where: Elverhøy district on Tromsøya island, within the city of Tromsø.
• Capacity: about 435 seats.
• Status: active parish church; the building is protected.
• Best for: fans of wooden architecture, Norwegian history and the unusual fates of historic buildings.

Frequently asked questions

Is Elverhøy Church very old? The structure dates from the early 19th century, and some fittings are older still. It has stood on its present site since the mid-1970s.

Is it the same church that once stood where the cathedral is now? Yes. The original early-1800s church stood on the site of today's Tromsø Cathedral and was moved twice.

How many people does it hold? About 435.

Can I visit it? It is a working parish church, so check service and opening times with the parish before you go.

What was it called before? After its first relocation it was known as Tromsøysund kirke.

Elverhøy proves that wooden churches in Norway can travel: this one passed through two locations before settling in its current home in Tromsø. If you are exploring beyond the cathedral and the best-known landmarks, add it to your route as an example of local heritage.