St Svithun's Church

St Svithun's Church in Stavanger is the parish church of the Roman Catholic community in this Norwegian city. It is a good stop for anyone interested in modern church architecture, in the religious history of Rogaland, or in how a small Catholic minority has found a home in a country with a Lutheran tradition.

Who is St Svithun's Church dedicated to?

The church is dedicated to St Swithun of Winchester, an English saint who is the patron saint of Stavanger. The link is much older than the present building. Stavanger Cathedral, begun in 1125 under Bishop Reinald, who came from Winchester, held relics of Svithun. For that reason the cathedral was long called St Svithun's church, centuries before the Reformation. The Catholic parish today continues the name of the city's patron.

When was the Catholic parish founded?

After the Reformation, the Catholic Church had no church in Stavanger for a long time. The parish was established in 1898. The first church stood at Løkkeveien and Dronningens gate. It was consecrated on 13 March 1898, together with the St Franciscus hospital on the opposite side of the street. The hospital was run from 1902 to 1973 by the Norwegian Sisters of St Francis Xavier, so the early parish was tied to care for the sick as well as to worship.

The parish area is large. It covers central and southern Rogaland and also the municipality of Sirdal in neighbouring Agder.

What does the current church look like?

The church you see today was built in 1983 and designed by the architect Thomas Thiis-Evensen. It is regarded as a postmodern building, and local historians count it among the most fully realised examples of that style in Stavanger. Between 2010 and 2012 the church was extended and rebuilt under the architect Grete Stuen. After the expansion it has nearly 600 seats, which says a lot about the size of the congregation.

Why has the congregation grown?

The Catholic community in the Stavanger region has grown over the decades. Sources link this to immigration connected with the oil industry and the NATO centre in the area, and to people arriving from Catholic countries. A parish that began in 1898 with a modest church and a hospital now serves a diverse, international congregation.

Anniversary

In 2023 the parish celebrated its 125th anniversary. The celebrations included a mass in St Svithun's Church and a large party at Hetlandshallen.

Practical tips for visitors

• The church is an active place of worship, so be respectful during services and check the parish schedule before visiting.
• If you enjoy architecture, combine the visit with a look at the other sights of central Stavanger, in particular Stavanger Cathedral, which shares the same patron saint.
• The building is a good example of how Norwegian architecture of the 1980s approached church design, and the later extension shows how the community has changed.

Frequently asked questions

Is St Svithun's Church the same as Stavanger Cathedral? No. St Svithun's is the Roman Catholic parish church. Stavanger Cathedral belongs to the Church of Norway, dates from 1125, and is linked to the same saint through its history.

Who was St Swithun? He was an English saint connected with Winchester, and he became the patron saint of Stavanger.

When was the current building completed? The present church dates from 1983, with a major extension and rebuilding in 2010-2012.

How many people can it hold? After the expansion, the church has nearly 600 seats.