Nordstrand Church

Nordstrand Church (Nordstrand kirke) is a red-brick neo-Gothic parish church at Ekebergveien 238 in Oslo, Norway. It began life in the 1860s as a modest chapel and grew over a century and a half into the main church of the Nordstrand district, with room for around 480 people.

What is the history of Nordstrand Church?

The building was consecrated in 1866 under the name Østre Aker Chapel. Later it was known as Sæter Chapel. In 1905 a separate Nordstrand congregation was founded, and in 1906 the church took the name it carries today: Nordstrand Church.

Over the years the building was repeatedly enlarged:

• 1866 – consecration of the original chapel.
• 1886 – a sacristy was added.
• 1935 – the church was extended and received a new tower at the west end.
• 2014–2015 – the largest expansion so far.
• 23 August 2015 – reconsecration by Ole Christian Kvarme, Bishop of Oslo.

Who designed Nordstrand Church?

The original church was designed by Jacob Wilhelm Nordan, a Danish-born architect who spent much of his career in Norway. He is credited with designing 96 churches in the country, more than any other architect, and is counted among the leading Norwegian architects of historicism. In Oslo his name is also linked to Sofienberg Church and Kampen Church. The builder of Nordstrand Church was Asmus Lenschow.

The 1935 west tower was drawn by architect Georg Greve. The 2014–2015 remodelling was carried out by Are Meinich and Trine-Lise Sonne.

What does the church look like?

The church is built in red brick in the neo-Gothic style, a form typical of Nordan's work and of nineteenth-century church building more broadly. It has a long, church-shaped plan with a tower at the western end, the latter dating from the 1935 extension.

The 2014–2015 enlargement added 26 metres to the east end of the building. Beneath the church, new basement facilities were created for the congregation. As a result the number of seats in the nave rose from about 300 to 480.

What is inside?

Among the interior features are the main organ, a pneumatic instrument from 1935 with 24 stops, and three choir windows painted by Frøydis Haavardsholm. The organ dates from the same year as the west tower, so the 1930s extension shaped both the exterior and the musical life of the church.

Why visit Nordstrand Church?

Nordstrand Church is a good stop for anyone interested in church architecture, Norwegian historicism or the layered growth of Oslo's suburbs. The building shows clearly how a small nineteenth-century chapel was adapted to a growing community: the 1886 sacristy, the 1935 tower and the 2015 eastern extension each leave a visible mark.

It lies in the Nordstrand district in the south-eastern part of Oslo, along Ekebergveien. Because it is an active parish church, it is worth checking the parish's current schedule before planning a visit inside.

Frequently asked questions

When was Nordstrand Church built? It was consecrated in 1866, originally as Østre Aker Chapel.

Who was the architect? Jacob Wilhelm Nordan designed the original building. Georg Greve drew the 1935 tower, and Are Meinich with Trine-Lise Sonne handled the 2014–2015 remodelling.

How many people does it seat? About 480 after the 2015 expansion, compared with roughly 300 before.

What style is it? Neo-Gothic, in red brick.

Where is it? At Ekebergveien 238 in the Nordstrand district of Oslo.