Diocese of Tunsberg
Encyclopedia
Tunsberg is a diocese
of the Church of Norway
. It includes parishes located within the counties of Vestfold
and Buskerud
, with the cathedral
city located in Tønsberg
.
and Buskerud
belonged to the Diocese of Oslo
. In a meeting of the episcopate in 1936, it was made clear that the Diocese of Oslo
- which included about one-third of Norway
's population - could not be managed by a single bishop
. Therefore the episcopate suggested that Vestfold and Buskerud should become their own diocese. But it was not before after the liberation of Norway
in 1945 that this discussion started again. The result of this was that the Odelsting - the larger of the two divisions of the Storting - decided on November 24, 1947 that Vestfold
and Buskerud
were to become a new diocese
. Additionally it was decided that Tønsberg
would be the new cathedral city of the Diocese of Tunsberg. Historically Tønsberg had been an important ecclesiastical center in Norway. In the middle ages, there were as many as 7 churches and 3 monasteries in this small urban community.
H.M. King Haakon VII
was present at the episcopal consecration in Tønsberg Cathedral on June 20, 1948. Tønsberg Cathedral was constructed of red brick and consecrated December 19, 1858. It was designed by architect Christian Heinrich Grosch
with a seating capacity of 550. The church is built on the site of the medieval St. Lavrans Church. The Cathedral has a pulpit dating from 1621. It is richly carved including the four evangelists
and their personal symbols. The altarpiece depicting the struggle of Jesus
at Gethsemane
dates from 1764. The Cathedral´s oldest treasures are two 16th Century Bibles, one from 1550 and one from 1589. The facility was refurbished during 1939 under the direction of Arnstein Arneberg
. The interior contains stained glass windows and glass mozaics by Norwegian artist, Per Vigeland (1904-1968). A fresco painted directly on the wall above the south door, depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
Beside Tønsberg Cathedral is the Park of Remembrance. The park is dedicated to the Second World War heroes. There are various commemorative monuments in the park, starting from various sculptures to fountains and art work, but the most famous piece is the sculpture Mother and Child by Gustav Vigeland
.
Since 2003, the Bishop of the Diocese of Tunsberg has been Laila Riksaasen Dahl
. The Diocese of Tunsberg consists of a number of registered Joint Parish Councils. The Parish Councils have responsibility for a number of neighboring parishes within rural deaneries
.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
. It includes parishes located within the counties of Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
and Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
, with the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
city located in Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
.
History
Prior to the establishment of the Diocese of Tunsberg in 1948, then counties of VestfoldVestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
and Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
belonged to the Diocese of Oslo
Diocese of Oslo
Oslo bishopric is The Church of Norway's bishopric for the municipalities of Oslo, Asker and Bærum. It is one of Norway's five traditional bishoprics and was founded around the year 1070.-History:...
. In a meeting of the episcopate in 1936, it was made clear that the Diocese of Oslo
Diocese of Oslo
Oslo bishopric is The Church of Norway's bishopric for the municipalities of Oslo, Asker and Bærum. It is one of Norway's five traditional bishoprics and was founded around the year 1070.-History:...
- which included about one-third of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's population - could not be managed by a single bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. Therefore the episcopate suggested that Vestfold and Buskerud should become their own diocese. But it was not before after the liberation of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1945 that this discussion started again. The result of this was that the Odelsting - the larger of the two divisions of the Storting - decided on November 24, 1947 that Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
and Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
were to become a new diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. Additionally it was decided that Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
would be the new cathedral city of the Diocese of Tunsberg. Historically Tønsberg had been an important ecclesiastical center in Norway. In the middle ages, there were as many as 7 churches and 3 monasteries in this small urban community.
H.M. King Haakon VII
Haakon VII
Haakon VII may refer to:People* Haakon VII of Norway , King of Norway Ships* HNoMS King Haakon VII, a Royal Norwegian Navy escort ship in commission from 1942 to 1951...
was present at the episcopal consecration in Tønsberg Cathedral on June 20, 1948. Tønsberg Cathedral was constructed of red brick and consecrated December 19, 1858. It was designed by architect Christian Heinrich Grosch
Christian Heinrich Grosch
Christian Heinrich Grosch was a Norwegian architect.He was born in Halden and educated by his father, Heinrich August Grosch and in Germany and Copenhagen....
with a seating capacity of 550. The church is built on the site of the medieval St. Lavrans Church. The Cathedral has a pulpit dating from 1621. It is richly carved including the four evangelists
Four Evangelists
In Christian tradition the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark...
and their personal symbols. The altarpiece depicting the struggle of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
at Gethsemane
Gethsemane
Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem most famous as the place where, according to Biblical texts, Jesus and his disciples are said to have prayed the night before Jesus' crucifixion.- Etymology :...
dates from 1764. The Cathedral´s oldest treasures are two 16th Century Bibles, one from 1550 and one from 1589. The facility was refurbished during 1939 under the direction of Arnstein Arneberg
Arnstein Arneberg
Arnstein Rynning Arneberg was a Norwegian architect. He was active as an architect for 50 years and is often considered the leading architect in Norway of his time. -Background:...
. The interior contains stained glass windows and glass mozaics by Norwegian artist, Per Vigeland (1904-1968). A fresco painted directly on the wall above the south door, depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
Beside Tønsberg Cathedral is the Park of Remembrance. The park is dedicated to the Second World War heroes. There are various commemorative monuments in the park, starting from various sculptures to fountains and art work, but the most famous piece is the sculpture Mother and Child by Gustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland was a Norwegian sculptor. Gustav Vigeland occupies a special position among Norwegian sculptors, both in the power of his creative imagination and in his productivity. He is most associated with Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo...
.
Since 2003, the Bishop of the Diocese of Tunsberg has been Laila Riksaasen Dahl
Laila Riksaasen Dahl
Lailia Riksaasen Dahl is the current bishop of the Diocese of Tunsberg in the Church of Norway.Riksaasen Dahl is a graduate from both the University of Oslo and MF Norwegian School of Theology . Dahl worked as a teacher from 1970 to 1980, and as a Christian educator from 1980 to 1984...
. The Diocese of Tunsberg consists of a number of registered Joint Parish Councils. The Parish Councils have responsibility for a number of neighboring parishes within rural deaneries
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
.
Joint Parish Councils
Joint Parish Councils registered within the Diocese of Tunsberg include:- TønsbergTønsbergis a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
Domprosti - LarvikLarvikis a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
- Nord-Jarlsberg
- DrammenDrammenDrammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
- EikerEikerEiker is a traditional district in the county of Buskerud, Norway.-History:Eiker consists of the municipalities of Nedre Eiker and Øvre Eiker . The area is located in the southern part of Buskerud county....
- KongsbergKongsbergis a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
- RingerikeRingerikeoskar er kjempe kulRingerike is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike...
- HallingdalHallingdalHallingdal is a valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol.-History:Ancient routes went to Vestlandet through Valdres and Hallingdal and down Røldal to Odda...
- SandefjordSandefjordis a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sandefjord. The municipality of Sandefjord was established on 1 January 1838...
- LierLierLier may refer to:* Lier, Belgium* Lier, Norway* De Lier, a town in the Netherlands* Li Er, also known as Laozi, a Chinese philosopher- See also :* Liar...
External links
- Tunsberg Diocese
- Tunsberg bispedømmeråd 2006-2010 in Norwegian