Definition
Garmo Stave Church (Norwegian: Garmo stavkyrkje) is a medieval wooden stave church originally constructed in the village of Garmo, Lom municipality, Oppland county, Norway. Since 1932, the structure has been preserved and displayed at the Maihaugen open‑air museum in Lillehammer.
Overview
The church was built during the 12th century, with dendrochronological analyses indicating a construction date around 1150–1200 CE. It functioned as a parish church for the local community of Garmo until the late 19th century. In 1882, the building was dismantled due to the construction of a new church on the site. Its components were stored for several decades before being re‑erected at the Maihaugen museum, where it has been exhibited as an example of Norway’s stave‑church tradition. The relocation effort aimed to preserve the architectural and artistic heritage of the original structure.
Etymology / Origin
The name combines the toponym “Garmo,” referring to the historic parish and settlement where the church was first erected, with the Norwegian term “stave church,” which denotes a wooden church built with a post‑and‑beam (stave) construction technique that was prevalent in medieval Scandinavia.
Characteristics
- Architecture: Garmo Stave Church follows the “type B” stave‑church plan, consisting of a rectangular nave supported by vertical staves (corner posts) and a raised central roof ridge. The roof is covered with wooden shingles and features a modest spire.
- Materials: The structure is primarily constructed from locally sourced pine timber, with hand‑crafted joints and wooden pegs (treenails) typical of medieval Norwegian carpentry.
- Interior: The church retains original medieval wall paintings, including simple geometric and plant motifs painted in red and black pigments. The altar and some liturgical furnishings are early wooden pieces, though later Baroque additions were removed during the 20th‑century restoration.
- Preservation: The re‑erection at Maihaugen involved meticulous labeling of each timber, allowing for accurate reconstruction. Conservation work in the 1990s focused on stabilizing the wooden elements, treating insect damage, and preserving the frescoes using reversible conservation materials.
Related Topics
- Stave churches – The broader category of medieval wooden churches found throughout Norway, of which approximately 30 survive in varying states of preservation.
- Maihaugen open‑air museum – The cultural heritage museum in Lillehammer that hosts Garmo Stave Church along with other historic Norwegian buildings.
- Norwegian medieval architecture – The architectural traditions and building techniques prevalent in Norway from the 11th to the 14th centuries.
- Lom Municipality – The original location of Garmo Stave Church and a region notable for its concentration of historic stave churches.
References
- Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage, “Garmo Stave Church.”
- Østby, Inger (1998). Stave Churches of Norway. Oslo: Norwegian Heritage Press.
- Maihaugen Museum Archives, “Reconstruction records of Garmo Stave Church, 1932.”