Oslo Cathedral
Oslo Cathedral (Oslo domkirke, previously the Our Savior's Church) was finished in 1697. It is located at Stortorvet square north/north-east of Karl Johans gate (Oslo's high street), between Kirkegata and Dronningens gate. The Cathedral's lower end is surrounded by the Bazar, a curved long building also called 'Kirkeristen' (completed 1856). Integrated with the Bazar on the side of Karl Johan is the Fire Watch that served as Oslo's main fire station from 1860 until 1939. The Cathedral itself, the Bazar and the Fire Watch are all built in red brick. The Fire Watch has a tower covered in green copper like the Cathedral. The Cathedral is laid out like a Latin cross.
Oslo Cathedral is the main church for Oslo bishopric as well as parish church for downtown Oslo. The Royal Family and the Norwegian Government use the cathedral for public events like weddings and funerals. The Nidaros Cathedral was the office of Norway's archbishop during catholic times, and Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim is still regarded as Norway's most significant church.
History
The current Oslo Cathedral is the third cathedral in Oslo, Norway. The first, Hallvards Cathedral, was built by Sigurd I of Norway in the first half of the 12th century, and was located by the Old Bishop's Palace in Oslo, some 1.5 kilometers east of today's Oslo Cathedral.
For almost 500 years, Hallvards Cathedral was the most important church in the city. In 1624 Christian IV decided to move the city a few kilometers west to be protected by Akershus Fortress. After that, Hallvards Cathedral fell into disrepair and decayed. In 1639 the second cathedral was built (Hellig Trefoldighet). This cathedral burnt down only 50 years after it was built, and the current cathedral was built.
Bishops of Oslo
- 1541-1545 Hans Rev
- 1545-1548 Anders Madssøn
- 1548-1580 Frants Berg
- 1580-1600 Jens Nilssøn
- 1601-1607 Anders Bendssøn Dall
- 1607-1617 Niels Senning
- 1617-1639 Niels Simensen Glostrup
- 1639-1646 Oluf Boesen
- 1646-1664 Hennings Stockfleth
- 1664-1699 Hans Rosing
- 1699-1712 Hans Munch
- 1713-1730 Bartholomæus Deichman
- 1731-1737 Peder Hersleb
- 1738-1758 Niels Dorph
- 1758-1773 Fredrik Nannestad
- 1773-1804 Christian Schmidt
- 1805-1822 Fredrik Julius Bech
- 1823-1845 Christian Sørensen
- 1846-1874 Jens Lauritz Arup
- 1875-1893 Carl Peter Parelius Essendrop
- 1893-1896 Fredrik Wilhelm Klumpp Bugge
- 1896-1912 Anton Christian Bang
- 1912-1922 Jens Frølich Tandberg
- 1922-1937 Johan Lunde
- 1937-1951 Eivind Berggrav
- 1951-1968 Johannes Smemo
- 1968-1973 Fridtjov Søiland Birkeli
- 1973-1977 Kaare Støylen
- 1977-1998 Andreas Aarflot
- 1998-2005 Gunnar Stålsett
- 2005- Ole Christian Kvarme
Organs and organists
The cathedral's first organ was built in 1711 by Swedish Carl Gustav Luckvitz, while the current main organ was built by Jan Ryde in 1997, the 300-year anniversary. Also the two smaller organs in the cathedral are built by Ryde.
Organists:
- Christian Olsen Rode (1709 – 1721)
- Johan Fredrik Clasen (1721 – 1764)
- Johan Adolph Pløen (1764 – 1769)
- Johan Krøyer (1769 – 1809)
- Fredrik Christian Groth (1809 – 1828)
- Frederik Christian Lindeman (1820 – 1826)
- Jacob Andreas Lindeman (1828 – 1840)
- Ludvig Mathias Lindeman (1840 – 1887)
- Christian Cappelen (1887 – 1916)
- Wilhelm Huus-Hansen (1913–1916)
- Eyvind Alnæs (1916–1932)
- Arild Sandvold (1933–1966)
- Rolf Karlsen (1966–1982)
- Terje Kvam (1982 -)
- Kåre Nordstoga (1984 – )