Grinaker Stave Church

Sketch of Grinaker Church by Kari Ruud Flem

The wooden Grinaker stave church was built in the 1100's. It served the Gran parish for over 700 years, although legend tells that the devastation of the Black Death caused the church to be forgotten for decades until a young shepherd boy stumbled upon it while looking for lost sheep!

Population growth in the early 1800's required that church capacity be expanded. A commission decided that both Grinaker and St Peter's (Tingelstad old church) should be abandoned in favor of a new church. St. Peter's, a stone church, was simply allowed to fall into disuse, but the stave church was torn down.

The wood from the stave church was used in a barn on the new parish church farm built for the church sexton. This building has been restored and it is possible to identfy the panels from the stave church today. The old wall that surrounded the church is still visible, as is the outline of the foundation of the old church.

The pulpit, bells, and baptismal font from the stave church were used in Tingelstad New Church. They had been added to the Grinaker church during a major renovation in the early 1700's. Many smaller items dating back to the earliest times of the church were also moved to the new building. The altar was used in the Sørum church.

Site of the Grinaker church

Site of Grinaker Stave Church

photo by lag member Wendy Winkelman