Utstein Church

{{short description|Church in Rogaland, Norway}} {{Infobox church |name = Utstein Church |full_name = Utstein klosterkyrkje |former_name = |image = Utstein kyrkje.jpg |caption = View of the church |website = |coordinates = {{coord|59.10333|5.59066|region:NO_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |location = [[Stavanger Municipality]], [[Rogaland]] |country = [[Norway]] |previous_denomination = [[Catholic Church]] |churchmanship = [[Evangelical Lutheran]] |denomination = [[Church of Norway]] |diocese = [[Diocese of Stavanger|Stavanger bispedømme]] |deanery = [[Tungenes prosti]] |parish = Mosterøy |status = [[Parish church]] |functional_status = Inactive |dedication = [[Saint Lawrence]] |founded = |consecrated = |groundbreaking = 1263 |completed = 1280 |closed = 1899 |events = |architect = |architectural_type = [[Long church]] |style = |materials = Stone |capacity = 300 |embedded = {{Norwegian Cultural Heritage Site |embed = yes |Type = Church |Status = Automatically protected |ID = 87030 }} }}

'''Utstein Church''' ({{langx|no|Utstein klosterkyrkje}}) is a historic [[parish church]] of the [[Church of Norway]] in the large [[Stavanger Municipality]] in [[Rogaland]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located on the grounds of the historic [[Utstein Abbey]] on the island of [[Klosterøy]]. It was historically the church for the Mosterøy [[parish]] which is part of the [[Tungenes prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Stavanger]]. The medieval stone church was built in a [[long church]] design around the year 1280 using designs by an unknown [[architect]]. The church seats about 300 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Utstein klosterkyrkje |url=https://kirkesok.no/kirke/2604 |access-date=2020-10-22 |publisher=Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker |url=http://www.kirkekonsulenten.no/kirker.htm |access-date=2020-10-22 |publisher=KirkeKonsulenten.no |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

==History== The construction of the church began in 1263 and the stone church was completed in the year 1280. The church was built on the site of the [[Utstein Abbey]] and it was dedicated to [[Saint Lawrence]]. The church was given to the [[Augustinian order]] by [[Magnus VI of Norway|Magnus Lagabøte]]. Both the [[nave]] and [[chancel]] are rectangular and of the same size, and between the two parts of the building there is a central tower. The church has [[Gothic architecture|gothic]] gate windows and in the ceilings there are cross-rib vaults. The soapstone [[baptismal font]] is from the 12th century, while the rest of the medieval furniture has been lost. Both the [[altarpiece]], [[pulpit]], and pews were made in [[Renaissance style]] around 1620, but the altarpiece was later modernized in the 18th century, with [[Baroque painting|baroque]] framing.<ref name="km">{{Cite web |title=Utstein Kloster |url=https://kulturminnesok.no/minne/?queryString=https%3A%2F%2Fdata.kulturminne.no%2Faskeladden%2Flokalitet%2F87030 |access-date=2020-10-22 |publisher=[[Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage]] |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

The monastery was looted and burned on two occasions during the first half of the 16th century. The church was used as a regular parish church until 1899 when it was taken out of regular use. Since then, the church has been a historic protected site that is only used as a church for special occasions.<ref name="km" />

==Media gallery== <gallery mode="packed"> File:Utstein Kloster 3.jpg File:Utstein kloster 14.jpg File:Utstein Kloster 1.jpg File:Utstein Kloster 6.jpg File:Utstein Kloster 5.jpg </gallery>

==See also== *[[List of churches in Rogaland]]

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Churches in Stavanger]] [[Category:Stone churches in Norway]] [[Category:13th-century churches in Norway]] [[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1280]] [[Category:Churches completed in the 1280s]] [[Category:13th-century establishments in Norway]]