Høyjord Stave Church
Høyjord Stave Church (Norwegian: Høyjord stavkirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Sandefjord Municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. It is located in the village of Høyjord. It is the church for the Høyjord parish which is part of the Sandefjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg. The brown, wooden church was built in a stave church design during the late 12th century using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 150 people.
| Høyjord Stave Church | |
|---|---|
| Høyjord stavkirke | |
View of the church | |
| 59°22′03″N 10°07′16″E | |
| Location | Sandefjord, Vestfold |
| Country | Norway |
| Denomination | Church of Norway |
| Previous denomination | Catholic Church |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical Lutheran |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 12th-century |
| Consecrated | 12th-century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Stave church |
| Style | Numedal type |
| Completed | c. 1150 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 150 |
| Materials | Wood |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Tunsberg |
| Deanery | Sandefjord prosti |
| Parish | Høyjord |
Norwegian Cultural Heritage Site | |
| Type | Church |
| Status | Automatically protected |
| ID | 84703 |
The church is the only stave church still standing in Vestfold county. It is also Norway's southernmost stave church that still looks like its original form. The church is one of three remaining center post churches (midtmastkirke) in Norway. The present stave church is commonly dated to around the year 1300, however, parts of the church were constructed in the 1100s and in 1275.
The church is single-naved building with a square chancel. It is a Numedal-type stave church. Restorations were initiated in the 1600s. After World War II it also underwent restoration. The medieval nave and the chancel's main structural components are preserved. Its wooden vault over the chancel has been reconstructed.