Høybråten Church

Høybråten Church (Høybråten kirke) is a small church in the north-eastern part of Oslo, surrounded by one of the largest cemeteries in the Norwegian capital. It began life as a cemetery chapel and is now a parish church. It suits visitors interested in interwar Norwegian architecture and in the local history of the former municipality of Aker.

How did the church come about?

The story starts with the cemetery. In 1924 the municipality of Aker bought roughly 40 acres at Høybråten for a new burial ground. The layout was drawn up by district gardener Karl Flod (1929), and his plan also decided where the chapel would stand. Work on the cemetery took place in the late 1920s; sources give different dates, usually 1928 or 1929.

The chapel was designed by Georg Greve, Aker's municipal architect. He presented plans and drawings in 1929, and H. Jørgensen managed construction. It was conceived so that it could serve for services as well as funerals. The first burial took place on 29 June 1932, and the building was consecrated the following day, 30 June 1932.

What does the building look like?

The church is built of brick with a slate roof. Its most distinctive feature is a copper-clad turret placed on the cemetery's main axis, so the building anchors the grounds around it and the cemetery paths lead the eye toward it. Inside there is seating for 168, which makes it an intimate space.

The altarpiece is a mosaic by Per Vigeland. One source dates it to 1955.

From chapel to parish church

For its first decades the building served as a cemetery chapel. It became a parish church in 1966, when the Høybråten parish was established. Since then it has been a focal point for the local community, while still standing amid the cemetery that surrounds it today.

Practical information for visitors

• Where: the Høybråten district in the north-east of Oslo.
• Who it suits: fans of twentieth-century church architecture, local history and quiet walks.
• Time needed: a short visit is usually enough; you can combine it with a stroll through the cemetery grounds, keeping quiet and respecting people visiting graves.
• Interior: access depends on services and parish events, so check the parish's current information before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed Høybråten Church? Georg Greve, the municipal architect of Aker.

When was it consecrated? On 30 June 1932. The first burial in the cemetery took place the day before.

Was it always a parish church? No. It started as a cemetery chapel and gained parish church status in 1966.

What is inside? A modest interior seating 168, with an altar mosaic by Per Vigeland.

Is the cemetery large? Yes, it is among the largest in Oslo and surrounds the church.