Iceland is dotted with pretty little nation church buildings and there are all in all roughly 380 church buildings in Iceland, large and small.
A few of them belong to the farmer and a few are within the possession and care of Þjóðminjasafnið – the Nationwide Museum of Iceland.
High picture: Tungufellskirkja church
Inside Tungufellskirkja church
On this travel-blog I’m going to point out you one of many smallest church buildings in Iceland, Tungufellskirkja church upcountry in South Iceland, which is within the possession of Þjóðminjasafnið – the Nationwide Museum of Iceland.
I go to all of the church buildings I see on my travels in Iceland and typically exit of my strategy to go to a rustic church. These church buildings are little gems to me and I’ve visited near 94% of the Icelandic church buildings.
Inside Tungufellskirkja
I had been desperate to see the church bells in Tungufellskirkja, which date again to round 1200, making them amongst the oldest church bells of this type within the Nordic nations.
Icelandic church buildings are locked, however after I was studying up on Tungufellskirkja church I noticed that the farmers supply a guided tour of the church.
So I contacted Elín Jóna Traustadóttir the farmer at Tungufell, the innermost farm in Hrunamannahreppur upcountry in South Iceland, and booked steering of the small church at Tungufell for a small payment.
Tungufellsfaldbúningurinn nationwide costume
What I did not know is that for guided excursions Elín Jóna places a model contained in the church, dressed within the nationwide costume, faldbúningur, which Elín Jóna herself had made.
So I bought fairly startled after I had a peek contained in the church when my husband went to inform Elín that we had arrived 🙂
I felt like I had stepped again in time, which was fairly pretty.
Contained in the small Tungufellskirkja church
Tungufellskirkja church may be very small, solely 22 sq.m., and seats 30. It’s one among Iceland’s smallest church buildings however not the smallest church in Iceland, as Núpsstaðakirkja turf church is smaller.
Tungufellskirkja church was in-built 1856-1857 by Sigfús Guðmundsson and has been within the possession of the Nationwide Museum of Iceland since 1987. It’s a timber church with no spire.
The oldest timber church in South Iceland is Búrfellskirkja church, in-built 1845, and the second oldest timber church in South Iceland is Mosfellskirkja, in-built 1848, so along with these church buildings, Tungufellskirkja church is amongst the oldest timber church buildings in South Iceland.
An outdated candleholder from 1871 is mounted on the wall by the pulpit
The primary point out of a church at Tungufell farm is from the church register of Bishop Páll Jónsson at Skálholt episcopal see round 1200, however older church buildings at Tungufell had been made from turf.
When you’ve got learn my travel-blog about Skálholt cathedral, which is comparatively near Tungufell farm, you then would possibly do not forget that the stone sarcophagus of Bishop Páll Jónsson is on show within the crypt. And his walrus tusk crosier is on show on the Nationwide Museum of Iceland.
An outdated hymn board contained in the church
The inside of the Tungufellskirkja church is straightforward however lovely.
The pulpit was made and painted by Ófeigur Jónsson most certainly initially made for a turf church that was erected in 1831. As was the altar and different artifacts within the church.
You’ll discover an outdated picket field within the church, most certainly additionally made by Ófeigur for the outdated church in 1831. The outdated hymn board in Tungufellskirkja church would possibly date again to that point as nicely.
The outdated altarpiece in Tungufellskirkja church
The altarpiece was painted by Brynjólfur Þórðarson in 1915 and is a reproduction of an altarpiece in St. Nikolai church in Holbæk, Denmark
Matthías Þórðarson, director of the Nationwide Museum, donated the altarpiece to the Tungufellskirkja church when the outdated enamel altar cross, sometimes called Tungufellskrossinn, got here into the possession of the Nationwide Museum.
The attractive altarpiece in Tungufellskirkja church
You will discover this lovely altar cross on show on the Nationwide Museum.
Tungufellskrossinn – the Crucifix of Tungufell
Valþjófsstaðaskrínið and Tungufellskrossinn on the Nationwide Museum of Iceland
In Tungufellskirkja church you’ll discover a photograph of a cross mounted on the wall on the fitting aspect of the altar.
This outdated enameled altar crucifix, Tungufellskrossinn, was in Tungufellskirkja church till 1915 when it was donated to the Nationwide museum.
It was most certainly made in Limoges in France round 1180-1220, however Limoges was again then the middle of enameling in West Europe.
Tungufellskrossinn – it’s troublesome to {photograph} it as it’s behind glass
The crucifix was at one time additionally in Skálholtskirkja cathedral and the small however lovely Mosfellskirkja church in Grímsnes.
To the left of Christ on the 52 cm cross is the Virgin Mary and the Apostle John to the fitting. Under the toes of Christ is Adam popping out of his grave. Angles enhance the cross on high and the decrease a part of the cross.
You will note extra pictures of the cross at Sarpur – Tungufellskrossinn.
A photograph of the outdated crucifix hangs on the wall within the church
To the fitting above my head in my picture beneath, you possibly can see a photograph of the outdated enamel cross which was final in Tungufellskirkja.
Tungufellskrossinn was in a foul form and components of it had been faraway from the cross and put right into a body and made into an altarpiece. When Matthías Þórðarson, the Director of the Nationwide Museum, purchased the cross again in 1915, he had the components refastened to a picket cross, however the outdated cross is misplaced.
In case you take a look at the pictures of the cross in Sarpur you’ll discover that it seems to be completely completely different on the rear aspect. That’s as a result of not all of the items from the outdated cross had been saved.
A photograph of the Tungufellskross crucifix hangs on the wall of Tungufellskirkja
I visited the Nationwide Museum to see the Tungufellskrossinn altar cross however noticed that it was wrongly marked as Draflastaðakrossinn crucifix, so I despatched them a message.
I bought no reply and nothing occurred for months, so I pointed this error out to one of many staff on the museum throughout one among my visits to the museum.
The knowledge is correct in Sarpur – Tungufellskrossinn, aside from the data on “spjaldtexti” the show textual content, which is the data on the museum itself in Icelandic.
Tungufellskrossinn
There are solely two crosses like this left, Tungufellskrossinn and Draflastaðakrossinn from Draflastaðir in Fnjóskadalur valley up north. I’ve written one other travel-blog in regards to the lovely Fnjóskadalur valley:
A Go to to Fnjóskadalur Valley
I like visiting the Nationwide Museum and hunt down artifacts, which I can hyperlink to my travel-blogs. Thus I can study extra in regards to the myriad of artifacts on the museum and in addition give you a chance to see the gorgeous outdated artifacts, which we now have on show.
The oldest bells in a church in Iceland
The Tungufellsklukkur church bells
Two of the oldest beehive copper church bells within the Nordic world are to be discovered within the small Tungufellskirkja church. They most certainly date again to earlier than the 12 months 1200.
I discover it superb that such outdated church bells are present in a small nation church upcountry in Iceland.
Right here you possibly can hearken to the sound of the outdated church bells: Kirkjuklukkur – Tungufellskirkja.
The outdated church bell from Hálskirkja in Fnjóskadalur is on show on the Nationwide Museum
On show on the Nationwide Museum is one other outdated church bell from Hálskirkja church in Fnjóskadalur. It’s of the identical beehive form because the church bells in Tungufellskirkja and most certainly dates again to the mid-Twelfth century.
Tungfufellsfaldbúningurinn nationwide gown
Tungufellsfaldbúningurinn nationwide gown
Elín Jóna, who lives at Tungufell, instructed us the historical past of the church and confirmed us this lovely nationwide gown, faldbúningur, which she made with patterns from the church.
For guided excursions, Elín Jóna brings her nationwide costume to the church as I instructed you earlier.
The steering is round ISK 1,000 per particular person and was nicely value it as often my husband and I go to the church buildings alone.
With Elín Jóna, the creator of the faldbúningur nationwide gown
He has the position of knocking on the door of the farmer and asking for the important thing and I take the pictures and write in regards to the locations.
We find it irresistible if the farmer has bought time to spare to inform us in regards to the church, however that’s not usually the case as they’re busy with their farm work.
So it was a particular deal with being guided round by the educated Elín Jóna 🙂
The Icelandic faldbúningur is made with patterns from the Tungufellskirkja church
Elín Jóna guided us for half an hour and instructed us all in regards to the faldbúningur which she made out of 2013-2017 utilizing outdated patterns from the church.
It was Jóna’s concept to make use of the patterns within the outdated woodwork at Tungufellskirkja church, for her nationwide costume. Which makes this faldbúningur one among a sort.
Discover how the sample within the belt matches the sample within the altar, and the sample within the bodice matches the sample across the altarpiece.
Lovely embroidery
Patterns from the altar are embroidered within the skirt of the Tungufells faldbúningur.
No two flowers painted on the altar and the body are the identical, they’re all distinctive.
The nationwide costume faldbúningur is an older kind of nationwide costume. It was worn by Icelandic ladies from across the seventeenth century till the mid-Nineteenth century.
The older kind of faldbúningur from the seventeenth and 18th centuries was vibrant, however the latter kind from round 1800, was darker and never as vibrant. Faldbúningur was later changed by skautbúningur.
The flower sample on one aspect of the altar
As I instructed you earlier then the pulpit and the altar and the body across the altarpiece had been made and painted by Ófeigur Jónsson, for an older turf church in-built 1831.
And now these outdated patterns have been embroidered right into a loverly nationwide costume. What a wonderful tribute to Ófeigur.
Lovely decorations on the Tungufells faldbúningur
Once you come exterior once more you’ll discover the skinny iron cross on high of the towerless Tungufellskirkja church. It was made round 1913 by Jón Árnason from Eyrarbakki village in South Iceland.
Jón Árnason additionally made the skinny church iron gate. Each the cross and the gate are fairly unpretentious, but so very pretty.
There are two providers a 12 months held at Tungufellskirkja church – within the summertime and on New 12 months’s Eve. And there are, occasionally, weddings, Christenings, and confirmations at this pretty little church.
Tungufellskirkja church
Tungufellskirkja church is farthest away from the ocean of Iceland’s church buildings, 58 km from Hvalfjörður bay. One would suppose that it was nearer to the ocean within the south, however not the west, so this got here as a shock to me.
By Tungufellskirkja church is an data signal erected by the Nationwide Museum of Iceland. In case you see such an indication with this image in my picture beneath when you’re travelling round Iceland, then you’ll know that the church, or turf home for that matter is within the possession of the Nationwide Museum.
On the web site of Þjóðminjasafnið – the Nationwide Museum of Iceland, you possibly can see a map of all of the museums and historic websites within the possession of the Nationwide Museum round Iceland.
The knowledge signal from our Nationwide museum
We drove additional into the valley which is off the overwhelmed path and picked blueberries. It was great being alone in nature, realizing that there have been crowds on the opposite aspect of the glacial river.
In case you drive even additional on it is possible for you to to go to Iceland’s best-known waterfall, Gullfoss itself, from the other aspect of the Hvítá river.
The higher cascade of Gullfoss waterfall as seen from the east financial institution of the Hvítá river
In case you go to Gullfoss from the east financial institution be very cautious as there aren’t any railings, simply pure nature.
The Majestic Gullfoss – Iceland’s Golden Waterfall, which supplies a Title to the Golden Circle
Although we’re off the overwhelmed path right here, then on the other aspect of the glacial river is likely one of the busiest roads in Iceland as there you’re on the Golden Circle route.
Visiting Gullfoss waterfall alone on the east financial institution of the Hvítá river
The Golden Circle is the preferred day tour in Iceland – it consists of Þingvellir nationwide park, the Geysir geothermal space, and the Gullfoss waterfall.
Brúarhlöð
Brúarhlöð
In your strategy to Tungufell or again for that matter, you’ll cross Hvítá glacial river, a few km beneath Gullfoss waterfall.
By the bridge, which is the third bridge constructed over the river (the two others had been washed away in 1929 and 1930 by the sheer drive of the river throughout a flood), you will notice the superb Brúarhlöð rock formations.
Brúarhlöð
Right here the glacial river Hvítá runs by way of Brúarhlöð gorge and has created fairly a magical sight, because it has sculpted the sediment Breccia (þursaberg) in uncommon shapes.
You possibly can park your automobile in a parking zone by the gorge and stroll right down to the river, the place you’ll have an incredible view of this lovely gorge.
Trying on the Brúarhlöð gorge from above
Or observe a small path and stroll alongside the gorge and take a look at it from above.
River rafting is in style right here on the Hvítá river and folks on the tour get an opportunity to leap into the river in a wetsuit.
You possibly can see the milky white color of the river which signifies that its origins are in a glacier.
This glacial water comes straight from the Langjökull glacier, Iceland’s second largest glacier, so it’s ice-cold.
Brúarhlöð
I’ve written one other travel-blog in regards to the Langjökull glacier:
Langjökull Ice Cave Tunnel and the Lovely Whale Fjord in West-Iceland
Right here you possibly can see the situation of Tungufellskirkja church on Google maps.
Have a stunning time in Iceland – there are myriad issues to see and do on this space 🙂
Ref.:
Kirkjur Ísland quantity I
Gengið í Guðshús
Tungufells faldbúningurinn – Elín Jóna Traustadóttir
Hundrað ár í Þjóðminjasafni – Kristján Eldjárn
Sarpur.is
