Hommelvik Church

Hommelvik Church (Hommelvik kirke) is a white wooden parish church in the village of Hommelvik, in Malvik Municipality, Trøndelag county, Norway. It stands on the shore side of the Trondheimsfjord region, a short distance from the city of Trondheim, and has served the local community for well over a century.

What kind of church is it?

The building belongs to the Church of Norway and is one of the churches of the Hommelvik parish. The parish is part of the Stjørdal deanery (prosti) in the Diocese of Nidaros, the historic church region centred on Trondheim. The church is a wooden "long church" (langkirke): a simple rectangular nave with a chancel at one end, a form that was the standard for Norwegian rural churches in the nineteenth century.

Who built it and when?

The church was built in 1886 and designed by the architects Johan Wæhre and Osvald Magnus Günther. It was consecrated on 25 May 1887. It seats about 360 people, which makes it a sizeable village church, large enough for major services and local celebrations.

How has it changed over time?

The church has been adapted several times. In 1950 it was extensively restored under the architect John Tverdal. The interior was modernised, and the church received a new pulpit, altarpiece and organ. In 1977 the roof and walls were insulated, the ceiling inside was lowered and clad in wooden panels, and the benches in the gallery were replaced with chairs. These works are why the interior feels different from what the 1880s builders originally made, while the white timber exterior still reads as a classic Norwegian church.

Why visit Hommelvik?

Hommelvik is a small settlement, and the church is one of its main landmarks. The railway station, opened in 1881 on the Meråker line, is also in the village, so the church and the station together show how the community developed in the late nineteenth century. The wider Malvik municipality was separated from Strinda in 1891, and the Malvik parish was created in 1897, only a few years after the church was finished.

The church is also listed as a point of interest on the Pilegrimsleden, the pilgrim route to Trondheim, so walkers on the trail may pass by it.

Frequently asked questions

When was Hommelvik Church built? It was built in 1886 and consecrated in 1887.

Who designed it? The architects Johan Wæhre and Osvald Magnus Günther.

How many people does it seat? About 360.

What style is it? It is a white wooden long church, a traditional Norwegian form.

Which parish does it belong to? The Hommelvik parish in the Stjørdal deanery, Diocese of Nidaros, Church of Norway.

Was it ever renovated? Yes, in 1950 (interior modernised, new pulpit, altarpiece and organ) and in 1977 (insulation and a lowered wood-panelled ceiling).