THE FAROESE CHURCH

The oldest preserved church in the Faroe Islands is the small parish church of St Olav in Kirkjubøur, built as a part of the Catholic episcopate possibly as early as the 12th century. Yet the grand and majestic ruin of the Magnus Cathedral, started sometime around the beginning of the 14th century, is the foremost historical monument in the Faroe Islands.

It is not these ancient remnants from the Middle Ages, however, that spring to mind when one thinks of Faroese churches. Rather, it is a vision of the black, wooden church with a grass roof that comes to mind. There are many examples of this type of church, all built during a brief 20 year period from around 1830 to 1850. The oldest of these churches is found in Hvalvík on Streymoy and the latest were built in Funningur on Eysturoy and in Porkeri on Suðuroy.
The earliest wooden churches resembled snails snuggled in their shells. In this treeless land, wood was very costly and rare and was used sparingly. Surrounding these very early wooden churches was a protective wall constructed of stones and packed earth. Better times brought changes in church construction and during the course of the 1700s it was common for churches to be built of imported wood and windows were incorporated into the design. 

The churches were modest in size, no bigger than other buildings in the village, but the detail work was exquisite. Eventually, a new feature was incorporated into the design: a small, white bell tower, placed either parallel or diagonal to the roof beam.
The inside of these churches is a veritable treasure chest of detailed, unpainted woodwork. The design is humble, yet elegant in its simplicity. The supporting timbers and joists are exposed. Each detail in the design reveals a distinctive profile or bears a special carving. One can almost hear the heavenly music intoned by this beautiful carving.

Many of the newer churches have been inspired by designs found outside the Faroes. Many are quite beautiful and worthy of a visit, especially Christianskirkjan in Klaksvík, Fríðrikskirkjan in Toftir, and the new church in the village of Gøta. They are large and spacious, as the population is now much larger and times have changed, of course. If you desire, however, to gain an appreciation and understanding of the deep spiritual devotion and modesty of the Faroese, you must, without a doubt, visit the old wooden village churches.