St. Olav's Cathedral, Trondheim

St. Olav's Cathedral in Trondheim is the main Catholic church of central Norway and the seat of the Territorial Prelature of Trondheim. It stands at Schirmers gate 1 on the Kalvskinnet hill, in the middle of the city. The building is modern, opened in 2016, and its story reflects the return of Catholic life to a city that was once the great pilgrimage destination of medieval Norway.

How is it different from Nidaros Cathedral?

Most visitors to Trondheim head for Nidaros Cathedral, the Lutheran medieval masterpiece built over the grave of Saint Olav. St. Olav's Cathedral on Schirmers gate is a different building altogether: the church of the city's Catholic community, which honors the same royal saint. The name makes sense, since Trondheim, formerly Nidaros, was for centuries the main place of pilgrimage in honor of Olav.

How did the parish begin?

The Catholic parish was founded in 1902. Its first home was a converted locomotive shed at Trondheim's first railway station, close to the Elgeseter bridge. That humble start says a lot about the position of Catholics in a country where Lutheranism had dominated for centuries.

The 1973 church

A new church designed by architect Per Kartvedt was consecrated in 1973. Its radical modernist design was controversial in the city. Painter Håkon Bleken created the decoration, including a series of paintings of the Stations of the Cross and a mosaic altar wall. The church was elevated to cathedral status in 1979, when the vicariate became a territorial prelature.

Over time the building became a problem. It was in poor condition and too small for a growing congregation, so the decision was made to demolish it and build a new cathedral on the same site. Bleken's mosaic altar wall was saved and moved to the Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum.

The new cathedral

The commission went to the Trondheim firm Eggen Arkitekter in May 2010, and their winning entry was titled "Trinitas". The budget was around 100 million Norwegian kroner, partly financed by a bank loan. The old church was demolished in 2014 and the new building was completed in November 2016. It was consecrated on 19 November 2016 by the pope's envoy, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster.

A freestanding bell tower with six bells stands beside the church. Bishop Bernt Ivar Eidsvig blessed the bells on 29 July 2016, a few months before the church itself opened.

Practical tips for visitors

• Address: Schirmers gate 1, Trondheim, in the Kalvskinnet district.
• Best for: anyone interested in contemporary church architecture, the history of Catholicism in Norway, or the cult of Saint Olav.
• Visiting: this is a working parish and cathedral church, so plan around services and keep noise down. Check the parish website for current opening hours.
• Combine with: the cathedral fits easily into a walk through the city center together with Nidaros Cathedral and other sights.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same cathedral as Nidaros? No. Nidaros is Lutheran and medieval, while St. Olav's Cathedral belongs to the Catholic Church and has a modern design.

When did the current building open? It was consecrated on 19 November 2016, after the 1973 church was torn down.

Who designed the new cathedral? Eggen Arkitekter of Trondheim, with a design called "Trinitas".

What happened to the mosaic from the old church? Håkon Bleken's mosaic altar wall was moved to the Sverresborg Folk Museum.

Which diocese does the cathedral serve? It is the seat of the Territorial Prelature of Trondheim, which covers Catholics in central Norway.