Gjerstad Church


Gjerstad Church is a parish church in Gjerstad municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the village of Gjerstad. It is the main church for the Gjerstad parish which is part of the Aust-Nedenes prosti in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. The white, wooden church was built in a "long church" style in 1848 by Lars Listøl using plans by the architect Christian H. Grosch. The church seats about 500 people. In 2004, the church was renovated and restored to its original look.

History

In the 1430s, a church named Gerikstadir Kirkje is mentioned in existing historical records. This is the first known reference to a church in Gjerstad. Historically, the parish of Gjerstad included the nearby areas of Vegårshei and Søndeled was torn down in the summer of 1849 and its material was sold. The cemetery south of the present church is where the old church was located.

Priests

There have been many priests who served at this church over the years. This is a partial list.

  • Axel Pedersen
  • Gude Pedersen
  • Laurs
  • Peder Jensen Holt
  • Erik Olsen
  • Lauritz Nilsen
  • Erik Fredriksen Lindland
  • Bent Pedersen Amdal
  • Hans Pedersen Høllen
  • Hans Lauritzen Scavenius
  • Peder Olsen Horster
  • Johan Joakim Markmann
  • Lars Larsen Eskildsen
  • Hans Mathias Abel
  • Søren Georg Abel
  • John Aas
  • Lortenz Ditlev Krog
  • Jørgen Christian Andreas Grøner
  • Georg Pharo
  • Knud Christian Jarl Møller
  • Ragnvald Cornelius Knudsen
  • Henrik Lehmann
  • Ivar Glette
  • Gunnar Bjarne Gundersen
  • Karl Trygve Lehne
  • Arne Johan Sørensen
  • Ravn Madland
  • Gerhard Falk Woie
  • Nils Peder Kjetså
  • Olav Hofsli
  • Media gallery