Stangvik Church (Norwegian: Stangvik kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway located in the village of Stangvik, within Surnadal Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The church serves the Stangvik parish, which is part of the Indre Nordmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.
History
The site has been used for Christian worship since at least the 14th century. The original medieval stave church was replaced in the 17th century by a timber‑framed long church. In 1865 the old building was deemed insufficient for the congregation, and a new church was commissioned. The current wooden long‑church was designed by architect Jacob Wilhelm Nordan and constructed under the supervision of local builder Anders J. Lyse. It was consecrated on 13 July 1868.
Architecture
- Style: Traditional Norwegian wooden long church.
- Materials: Predominantly timber, with painted wooden siding.
- Capacity: Approximately 430 seated worshippers.
- Key features: A rectangular nave with a chancel at the eastern end, a west-facing tower with a steeple, and a sacristy adjoining the chancel. The interior retains 19th‑century furnishings, including a pulpit and altar table crafted in the same period as the building.
Cultural significance
Stangvik Church functions as both a religious centre and a community landmark. It hosts regular Sunday services, baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals. The church and its surrounding cemetery are listed in the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage due to their architectural and historical value.
Administration
- Denomination: Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran)
- Diocese: Møre bispedømme (Diocese of Møre)
- Deanery: Indre Nordmøre prosti
- Parish: Stangvik
Geography
The church is situated on the northern shore of the Stangvik Fjord, approximately 5 km northwest of the village of Surnadal. Its location offers a view of the surrounding fjord landscape, characteristic of the region’s coastal terrain.
