Churches of Iceland

The Churches of Iceland is the first post in a series on the visual delights of Iceland. Neither scholarly nor scientific, we try to share the delightful surprises we found while traveling around Iceland.

This is not a complete catalog. Rather, it is primarily a self-indulgent scrapbook of personal impressions. We had to skip some churches to maintain our ambitious schedule and vagabond tendencies.

This photo features the lupine that flanks the cemetery and church of Strandarkirkja. — In early June, lupine flank the cemetery and church of Strandarkirkja, which loosely translates as “coastal church.” The name is fitting as the church overlooks the Atlantic and is visible from far at sea. It is locaded on the southern coast of the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland.

The churches of Iceland

Icelandic ecclesiastical architecture is fascinating, beautiful, and varied. Each church is unique. We encountered tiny, one-room churches and vast cathedrals. Shapes included square, rectangular, cruciform, and octagonal. Building materials mixed stone, imported wood, driftwood, corrugated iron, and even sod. Churches nestled beside the road, stood proudly in the cities, overlooked farms, and rode projections into picturesque lakes. And, nearly all the churches we encountered were unlocked, allowing us unfettered opportunity to photograph them. Only time and vehicle-reliability limited us.

The churches in this portfolio appear in basically counterclockwise order. We started near Keflavik Airport, circled the island, and ended back in Reykjavík.

Stone church in Hvalsnes, overlooking the Atlantic, just west of the Keflavik Airport in Iceland.

Sign for the stone church in Hvalsnes, overlooking the Atlantic, just west of the Keflavik Airport in Iceland.

Kirkjuvogskirkja adorns the small village of Hafnir, along the western edge of the Reykjanes Peninsula, in an area called Kirkjuvogur.

The name is fitting as the church overlooks the Atlantic and is visible from far at sea. It is locaded on the southern coast of the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland.

This sculpture in Norwegian granite stands on the grounds of Strandarkirkja. Strandarkirkja loosely translates as "coastal church." The name is fitting as the church overlooks the Atlantic and is visible from far at sea. It is locaded on the southern coast of the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland.

In early June, lupine flank the cemetery and church of Strandarkirkja, which loosely translates as "coastal church." The name is fitting as the church overlooks the Atlantic and is visible from far at sea. It is locaded on the southern coast of the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland.

Interior view of Strandarkirkja, a small church on the southern coast of Reykjanes in Iceland.

Thorlakshofn Church is a large church on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

Hraungerðiskirkja is a simple Icelandic church along the Ring Road in southwestern Iceland. Like most Icelandic churches, it stands on a slight rise so it overlooks the other buildings of the town or farm complex, but it is not so high or tall as to loom over them. It is usually the finest building around - by just a little bit.

To an outsider, the electric lights on this cross at the church Hraungerðiskirkja in southeastern Iceland might seem odd. However, in a land where daylight is scarce for much of the year, the illuminated cross makes a fitting memorial - and a practical navigation aid to find the grave.

The church in Oddi in southwestern Iceland sits within the range of the Hekla volcano. Hekla may look serene but it is a nasty neighbor. It´s past contributions included poisonous fluorine gas and enough ash to stop tree growth for a decade. Legend had it that Hekla was one of two entrances to Hell, the other being Stomboli.

The variety of grave markers at Oddi gives a clue of how much Icelanders treasure independence, even in matters of religion. Oddi is just off the Ring Road in southwestern Iceland.

Inside of the church at Oddi in southern Iceland. The arched ceilings and dark-wood pews are a common feature in Icelandic churches.

Breidabolstad Church is located in southwestern Iceland on a farm west of Hvolsvöllur near the Ring Road.

Skogakirkja is on the grounds of the Skogar Museum, west of Vik in southern Iceland.

This is the interior of Skogar Church. Skogakirkja is on the grounds of the Skogar Museum, west of Vik in southern Iceland.

On a rainly afternoon, the church at Vik, sitting above the town in a field of lupine with a background of volcanic hills, catches a little afternoon sunlight.

The church at Vik on the south coast of Iceland sits in a field of lupine.

The interior of the Vik Church, also known as Reynir's Church, has a barrel vault ceiling. Notice the lovely pipe organ.

This is one of the stained glass windows seen from within the interior of the church in Vik on the south coast of Iceland. The window was designed and crafted by Hrafnhildur Agustsdottir.

Tombstones in the cemetery at Vik in Iceland mimic the sea stacks of the Reynisdrangar spikes.

This modern church in Kirkjubaejarklaustur (referred to locally as Klauster) was built in 1974, a short distance from the foundations of one of the oldest religious buildings in Iceland, a Benedictine convent founded in 1186. The texture of the materials along with the A-frame design create a pleasing composition.

Bjarnarneskirkja is near the Ring Road, north of Hofn in Iceland.

The church at Heydalir, often called Eydalir, is part of a farm and parson- age complex.An older church, built in 1856, sat nearby and was former- ly considered one of the richest parishes in Iceland.This older church, which stood beside the new church pictured here, burned down under suspicious circumstances.

Now for something a little different. Kirkjubær, in Stöðvarfjörður, is a deconsecrated church that has been transformed into a guesthouse.This was the first of several church buildings we encountered with a blue and white color scheme.

Peak of the mountain Dyrfjoll and the church Bakkagerðiskirkja in eastern Iceland.

Peak of the mountain Dyrfjoll and the spire of the church Bakkagerðiskirkja in eastern Iceland.

This view of Bláa Kirkjan gives you a better feeling for the size of this church.Although we did not get to see the interior during our visit, the photos we have seen on the Web depict a sanctuary bathed in light, with a large pipe organ and chior in the loft.

Bláa Kirkjan, or blue church, is one of the lovliest buildings in the village of Seyðisfjörður. Not only is it a place of worship, but it also serves as a venue for jazz, classical and folk concerts during the summer.

This view was taken from the front steps of the Blue Church in the village of Seyðisfjörður.

This view of Bláa Kirkjan was taken from the opposite side of the fjord in the village of Seyðisfjörður.

This view was taken was taken from just down the street leading to the church in the village of Seyðisfjörður.

The church in the port town of Húsavík is a major landmark, with the belltower measuring 26 meters (over 85 feet) in height. It was built in 1907 from wood, a somewhat costly building material because it had to be imported from Norway. On the hillside behind the church is purple lupine.

This is the church at the Glaumbær folk museum in northern Iceland.

The church Víðimýrarkirkja in northern Iceland. The turf roof and sod bricks made the most of what little wood could be spared for construction.

The church is octagonal. Iceland seems to treasure creativity and individualism.

Three graves in the cemetery at Auðkúlukirkja are beadsteads. The church itself is octagonal. Iceland seems to treasure creativity and individualism. Although we had never seen the practice before, it is apparently not that rare. For instance, iron bedframes are used in the Wind River Reservation cemetery in Fort Washakie, Wyoming, USA.

Interior of the octagonal church Auðkúlukirkja in northern Iceland.

What does this modern church on a hill above the town of Blönduós remind you of? A volcano, maybe? The architect, Dr. Maggi Jónsson, is said to have taken inspiration from the surrounding landscape when he designed this parish church, which was consecrated in 1993.

The present church at Kirkjuhvammur, near Hvammstangi, was built in the summer of 1882. It was discontinued as a parish church in 1957, after the new chuch in Hvammstangi was consecrated.The church started to deteriorate and was taken over by the National Museum in 1976. After extensive repairs started in 1992, the building was re-consecrated in 1997.

This white concrete church, in Stykkishólmur, was consecrated in 1980. Standing high on a hill overlooking the town, the structure looks a little like a nuclear power facility—especially the apse, which makes me think of a cooling tower.

The modern church at Stykkishólmur, Iceland, looms over a simple boat.

Church at Helgafell, just south of Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in western Iceland.

The church at Grundarfjörður, Iceland. The mountain in the background is Kirkjufell, which translates as Church Mountain.

This church near Hellnar sits below the Snaefellsjokull ice cap.

The church Hallgrímskirkja on the north shore of Hvalfjörður in southwestern Iceland. Just to be clear, there is also a Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik. It is much bigger.

There has been a church on or near the current church complex since Christianity was adopted. Even before that, Þingvallavatn (Lake Thingvellir) was a very important site to Icelanders. It is where the national parliament (Althingi) was instituted in 930 AD.

A view of the Skálholt Church complex in southwestern Iceland.

The community of Skálholt has been a center of religion in Iceland since 1056 AD. Today, it hosts a complex of libraries, offices, museums, historical ruins, graves, schools, and this church. Skálholt is located in southwestern Iceland.

This is the interior view of Skálholt Church that features a vaulted ceiling, stained-glass windows, and mosaic altarpiece.

This is a close-up of one of the magnificient leaded glass windows, created by Icelandic artist Gerður Hel- gadóttir, for Skálholt Church.

Úlfljótsvatn Church and cemetery is built on a headland of land that juts into lake Úlfljótsvatn in southwestern Ice- land. Built in 1914, the rather large steeple was added in 1924.As with many churches in Iceland, this one, too, sits on the site of previous churches.

Church in the town of Selfoss in southwestern Iceland. The church overlooks the river Ölfusá.

This modern church designed by the architects Ormar Þór Guðmundsson and Örnólfur Hall, is located in Reykjanesbær (Njarðvík), Iceland.

The Free Church in Reykjavik is a Lutheran church more aligned to Lutheran churches found in Norway and North America. It is not affiliated with the National Church of Ice- land. Constructed started in 1901 on the shores of Lake Tjornin in 1901.And, it was con- secrated in 1903.The rear of the church is concrete and is part of a new chancel that was added in 1924.

View from the rear of the church Frikirkjan in Reykjavik.

Dómkirkjan í Reykjavík, or Reykjavík Cathedral, is located in Austurvöllur Square.The church has gone through many iterations, mainly due to poor construction practices.The current church has the date 1847 carved into the steeple; but, the building we see today was restored two more times (1879 and 1999) before it was declared totally safe.

Landakotskirkja is the Catholic cathedral in Reykjavik.

This sod church, built in 1842 in the north of Iceland, was moved to this located in 1960 and is now an exhibit at the Árbæjarsafn open air museum on the ourskirts of Reykjavik.

Interior of a small church on exhibit at the Árbæjarsafn folk museum in Reykjavík

Why churches?

When we traveled to Iceland in 2012, we had no plan to catalog or document churches. In fact, our extensive research beforehand scarcely touched on churches. Instead, we focused on waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields, puffins, and cute shaggy horses—all the usual things people come to Iceland to see. But, almost immediately, we were smitten by the beauty, variety, and humanity of the churches dotting the landscape.

We came to realize that Icelandic churches are more than cold emblems of theology and dogma. They are more than houses of worship. Churches serve as community-meeting centers, schools, emergency shelters, performance halls, and venues for weddings and christenings. They are an integral part of the life of Icelanders regardless of religious views and feelings.

In short, these structures are not the product of cookie-cutter style but wondrous combinations of shape, color, texture, and symbols—both inside and out. We found the churches of Iceland representative of the best Icelandic cultural values of individuality, community, creativity, humility, and adaptation to the land and nature.

Other photographs from Iceland

Here are some of our other portfolios from our Icelandic photo shoot:

Waterfalls
Lighthouses

Purchasing our photographs

All of our scenic photographs are available as fine art prints. Use the contact form to the right to get more information. Or, go to our Fine Art Print page to learn about various pricing options.