There is a church in every corner of Norway. They are important places of culture and encounters between people, a place where people gathere in joy and life, in sorrow and death.
A report from 2018 shows that about one in every ten churches is being used less than once a month. Three out of four of these are located in places with lesss than 5,000 inhabitants.
Nærsnes and Alversund, 2019.
Religious service in Nærsnes church in Buskerud.
Nærsnes church is being used for religious services once a month, and the rest of the time the congregations uses another church in Slemmestad.
Catechist Ellen Sæle Hansen is getting ready for a “baby date” in Nærsnes church. A lot of families have moved to the town in recent years, and 28 babies are now a part of the congregation.
Confirmant Laura Osland Øvretveit leads the entrance procession during a service in Alversund church in Nordhordland.
The view from Alversund church.
The parish priest, Geir Øy, sings a hymn in Alversund church with the assistance of Helle Kartveit, who is the church’s catechist and confirmation leader.
Knarvik Gospel sings during an evening service in the new Knarvik church.
Knarvik church, built in 2014. It fulfils a completely different need compared to the old church in Alversund.
The annual meeting in Nærsnes church ends with a hymn. The church is seeing an increase in church goers in recent years, and it functions as an important gathering place for those who live nearby. The “baby date”, with play and song.
Baptism in Nærsnes church.
Religious service in Alversund church.
