Religion plays an important role in the Faroes. Around 80% of the population belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In the Faroes there are both the old wooden churches and modern churches, and on Eysturoy you will find 5 of the old wooden churches and 3 modern churches.
The old wooden churches are open by arrangement, pleast contact the Tourist Information Offices.
The New Church in Gøta
On the 25th of June 1995 the church in Gøta was consecrated by bishop Hans Jacob Joensen in the precense of her Majesty the Queen Margrethe II. and the Nordic bishops. The Faroese artist Tróndur Patursson has been in charge of the artistic ornamentation. On the wall there are 12 big bracket lamps made of glass and ornamented with a cross. There are three crosses on the tower that symbolize the crosses on Golgatha. The tower has two bells, they ring every half hour and on the hour.
Visit the church:
Open 1 June - 1 September: 02:00 pm - 04:00 pm.
Contact: Dagbjørt Hansen
Tel: +298 44 10 31
Leif Petersen
Tel: +298 44 10 83
Old Gøta Church
Above the door leading into the old wooden church there is a board saying "anno
1833". An interesting thing about this is that the letter "n" is written
contrary to the way we would write it today. There is a carved wall between the
entrance and the church. In the church there are also 2 chandeliers given as
alms.
Open at the same time as "Blásastova" or by request.
Contact Anna Nesá
Tel: +298 44 10 68
or Martin Juul Jarnskor
Tel: +298 44 21 92
Fuglafjørður Church
The new church in Fuglafjørur with its simple architecture, fine acoustic
qualities and 26 voice-Marcussen organ is considered one of the best concert
venues in the Faroe Islands. As well as services and other events it is an
attractive church to visit. The church is designed by a well-known Danish
architect, Holger Jensen. He has designed several churches in Denmark and one in
Greenland. Bent Exener made the church silver. The church was built by local
workers and replaced the old stone church which dated from 1871. Models of the
church alongside the old church are exhibited in the new church.
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The Churches in Toftir
The new church in Toftir is called "Fríðríkskirkjan", after Dean Fríðrikkur Petersen.
It is considered by many as an architectural masterpiece. The church has, for example, an altarpiece, communion table, and pulpit, which are made of Swedish granite. The baptismal font is of Faroese stone. The lighting was especially designed for the church by the Faroese architect Høgni Larsen. This is a very interesting church and definitely worth a visit.
Open 21 May - 14 September. Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Friday: 01.00 pm - 04:00 pm or by appointment.
Contact: Ova Magnussen
Tel: +298 44 74 57
Hans Karl Saltá
Tel: +298 44 71 99
Nes, which is the southernmost village on Eysturoy, has been the residence of the Faroese deans since the Reformation. In Nes there is an old wooden church from the year 1843 and a new church from 1996. Altogether 15 deans have lived in the deanery over 215 years. The churches at Nes and Toftir are open to visitors during the summer.
Visit the church:
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday:
13.00 - 16.00
Also open by arrangement
The 5 Wooden Churches
From 1829 to 1847 ten wooden churches were built. They represented the finest of
Faroese craftsmanship and architecture. They offer a rich assortment of craft
details as well as symbolic ornament. For the locals this has been a place to
seek and to find joy and strength in everyday life. Of the 10 wooden churches
there are five in Eysturoy. The churches are traditional Faroese buildings which
are simple in structure but differ in their architectural detail. The five
churches are in the following villages.
Sjógv (Strendur) built in 1834
Nes (Toftir) built in 1843
Gøta (Norðragøta) built in 1833
Oyndarfjørður built in 1838
Funningur built in 1847
The old churches in Gøta and Nes (Eysturoy), where there are two new churches,
are only used on special occasions.
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