Saint Jetmund Church


Saint Jetmund Church is a former parish church of the Church of Norway in Vanylven Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the village of Åheim, on the eastern shore of the Vanylvsfjorden. It is now a museum and historic site, but the church was once the main church for the Vanylven parish which is now part of the Søre Sunnmøre prosti in the Diocese of Møre. The marble and stone church was rebuilt in a long church style between 1931 and 1957 by the architect Johan Lindstrøm and the historian Cato Engen.
The marble and stone church was originally built in 1150 and torn down in 1864 when it was replaced by the newly built Vanylven Church in nearby Slagnes. The church was rebuilt as a museum in 1957.

History

The earliest existing historical records of the old stone church date back to 1403, but the church wasn't new at that time. It was likely built during the first half of the 1200s. The church was demolished in 1864 and the stones were reused in the area in other buildings. Everything was removed except for the foundation of the building and the chancel portal.
In 1931, the overgrown church site was cleared and then in 1937, Cato Enger led the reconstruction of a replica of the historic church using the old plans for the building. In 1957, the church was completed and consecrated by the bishop. Many of the original stones were reclaimed and reused in the new church. The new church is now a museum.

Dedication

The church was named after St. Edmund, an English saint. He was a medieval King of England who had been in Åheim and founded the church. He was killed by Vikings and later made a saint.

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