Moss Church

Moss Church (Moss kirke) is a brick church in the centre of Moss, a town in Østfold county, Norway, on the Oslofjord. The neo-Gothic building stands in a park close to the town centre, which makes it one of the easiest landmarks in town to reach. It is also listed as a point of interest on the Pilgrim's Way (Pilegrimsleden), so it works as a natural stop for walkers.

When was Moss Church built?

The present building was consecrated in 1861. It replaced an earlier church from the 1770s that burned down in one of the largest fires in the town's history. The architects were Heinrich Ernst Schirmer and Wilhelm von Hanno, and Wikidata gives the same names. Some travel pages claim the church dates from the 12th century, but that contradicts the more specific records pointing to 1861, so treat it with caution.

What does the church look like?

The design is neo-Gothic. Its signature features are raw, unplastered brick and pointed windows. Green parkland surrounds the building, so it can be admired from several sides, and a short walk from the centre fits easily into a stroll around town.

Inside, the stained-glass windows are by Oluf Vold-Thorne and Borgar Hauglid. The interior decoration was extended during a renovation in 1929, which included work by Enevold Thømt.

A modern interior in older walls

Between 2015 and 2017 the interior was thoroughly rehabilitated. The result is a contemporary worship space created inside the historic structure, adapted to the needs of today's congregation. It is a good example of nineteenth-century architecture being combined with a modern approach to how a church is used.

Frequently asked questions

Is Moss Church old? The current building dates from 1861. The previous church, from the 1770s, was destroyed by fire.

Who designed it? Heinrich Ernst Schirmer and Wilhelm von Hanno.

What style is it? Neo-Gothic, in raw brick with pointed windows.

What is worth seeing inside? The stained glass by Oluf Vold-Thorne and Borgar Hauglid, the 1929 decoration by Enevold Thømt, and the interior renewed in 2015-2017.

Where is it? In the centre of Moss, in a park near the town centre. It is also a point on the Pilgrim's Way.

Who should visit?

We recommend the church to fans of nineteenth-century architecture, anyone curious about Norwegian town history, and pilgrims or hikers following Pilegrimsleden. A visit does not take long, yet it shows how the town rebuilt after a great fire and how its main church has adapted to the present day. Before you go, check the current opening hours, as church interiors are often open only at limited times, especially outside the tourist season. You can combine the visit with a walk through central Moss and along the waterfront, where other traces of the town's industrial and harbour past can be found.