Hallgrímskirkja

Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja (Lutheran church), Reykjavík, Iceland.

The Hallgrímskirkja (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈhatlkrimsˌcʰɪrca], church of Hallgrímur) is a Lutheran (Church of Iceland) parish church in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 74.5 metres (244 ft), it is the largest church in Iceland and the sixth tallest architectural structure in Iceland after Longwave radio mast Hellissandur, the radio masts of US Navy at Grindavík, Eiðar longwave transmitter and Smáratorg tower.[1] The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614 to 1674), author of the Passion Hymns.[2]

State Architect Guðjón Samúelsson's design of the church was commissioned in 1937. He is said to have designed it to resemble the basalt lava flows of Iceland's landscape.[3] It took 38 years to build the church. Construction work began in 1945 and ended in 1986, the landmark tower being completed long before the church's actual completion. The crypt beneath the choir was consecrated in 1948, the steeple and wings were completed in 1974.[3] The nave was consecrated in 1986.[1] Situated in the centre of Reykjavík, it is one of the city's best-known landmarks and is visible throughout the city. It is similar in style to the expressionist architecture of Grundtvig's Church of Copenhagen, Denmark, completed in 1926.

The church houses a large pipe organ by the German organ builder Johannes Klais of Bonn. It has mechanical action, four manuals and pedal, 102 ranks, 72 stops and 5275 pipes.[1] It is 15 metres tall and weighs 25 tons. Its construction was finished in December 1992. It has been recorded by Christopher Herrick in his Organ Fireworks VII CD.

The church is also used as an observation tower. An observer can take a lift up to the viewing deck and view Reykjavík and the surrounding mountains. The statue of explorer Leif Eriksson (1929-32) by Alexander Stirling Calder in front of the church predates its construction. It was a gift from the United States in honor of the 1930 Alþingi Millennial Festival, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Iceland's parliament at Þingvellir in 930 AD.[3]

In 2008, the church underwent a major restoration of the main tower, and was covered in scaffolding. In late 2009, restoration was completed and the scaffolding was removed.

References

  1. ^ a b c Organ Fireworks VII – Christopher Herrick at the organ of the Hallgrimskirkja (CD). Hyperion. 1997. 
  2. ^ Other Icelandic churches named in memory of Hallgrímur Pétursson are the Hallgrímskirkja in Saurbær, where Pétursson was minister and, since 1957, the Hallgrímskirkja í Vindáshlið (Kjós).
  3. ^ a b c Noyes, David (March–April 2009). "Iceland – Europe's coolest little hot spot". Going Places (AAA):  28. 

External links

Coordinates: 64°08′31″N 21°55′39″W / 64.14194°N 21.9275°W / 64.14194; -21.9275


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Hallgrímskirkja — Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík D …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hallgrimskirkja — Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík Hallgrímskirkja, Seitenansicht …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hallgrímskirkja — Présentation Culte Luthérianisme Type Église Début de la construction …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Hallgrimskirkja — Hallgrímskirkja Hallgrímskirkja dans le centre de Reykjavík Hallgrímskirkja est une église située dans le sud est du centre ville de Reykjavík, en Islande. Construite de 1945 à 1986, elle est en béton et sa flèche mesure 75 m. Elle est ainsi …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Hallgrímskirkja — La Hallgrímskirkja destacando en Reikiavik. La Hallgrímskirkja (literalmente, «la iglesia de Hallgrímur») es una iglesia de rito luterano situada en Reikiavik, capital de Islandia. Con 74,5 metros, es el edificio más alto de ese país, aunque no… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Hallgrímskirkja — …   Википедия

  • Rejkjavik — Reykjavík (Reykjavíkurborg) Basisdaten Staat: Island Region: Höfuðborgarsvæðið …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Reykjavik — Reykjavík (Reykjavíkurborg) Basisdaten Staat: Island Region: Höfuðborgarsvæðið …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Reykjavíkurborg — Reykjavík (Reykjavíkurborg) Basisdaten Staat: Island Region: Höfuðborgarsvæðið …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Reykjavík — (Reykjavíkurborg) Basisdaten Staat: Island Region: Höfuðborgarsvæðið …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”