Logtun Church


Logtun Church is a historic, medieval parish church of the Church of Norway in Frosta municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Logtun. It is an annex church for the Frosta parish which is part of the Stiklestad prosti in the Diocese of Nidaros. It is also a museum and historic cultural site that was gifted from the parish to the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. The stone church was built in a long church style during the late 12th century by an unknown architect. The church was the main church for the parish of Frosta until the new Frosta Church was built nearby in 1866. After that, the church was not regularly used. During the 1950s, the church was restored and it is now used infrequently as a wedding venue and it holds some summer worship services.

History

Logtun is located on the Frosta peninsula close to Tinghaugen, the site of the early Norwegian Frostating court. There was already a church at Logtun at the time of Archbishop Eystein Erlendsson, but no sources indicate when this particular church was built. It is assumed that it dates back to the late 12th century, and that it has been rebuilt several times. The church was constructed with double walls of stone and brick and with lime and sand.
In 1640, the church underwent extensive interior repair. The church has a special altarpiece that was carved in 1652 and painted in 1655. Johan Bildthugger performed the carpentry and wood carving and Johan Hansen Kontrafeier the painting. The church has had several additions: sacristy, veranda tower, and porches. All these were of wood and were probably built after the Reformation in 1537.
In 1857, Frosta municipality bought the church. The nearby Frosta Church was built in 1866 to replace it as the main church for the area. Logtun Church was restored in 1950, after lying in ruins for many years. The church is now owned by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments, but it is still used for baptisms, wedding ceremonies, some religious services, and concerts.

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