Kristiansand Cathedral
Gothic Revival cathedral on Torvet
Kristiansand Cathedral is a cruciform Gothic Revival church of brick and timber, consecrated in 1885 after the city fire of 1880. It is the fourth church on Torvet, seats 900 and has a 70 m tower.
On this page
The cathedral on Torvet
Kristiansand Cathedral stands at Gyldenløves gate 9 on Torvet, the market square in the heart of Kvadraturen. The cruciform Gothic Revival church is built of brick and timber. It seats 900, is 60 m long and 39 m wide, and its tower is 70 m high.
History
Today's cathedral is the fourth church on this site. The first was Trefoldighetskirken from 1645, only a few years after the town was founded in 1641. It was followed in 1693 by Vor Frelsers kirke, which burned down in 1734. The church built in 1738 was lost in the great city fire of 1880.
The new building was designed by the architect Henrik Thrap-Meyer, with Theodor Hansen as master builder. It was built in 1883 and 1884 and consecrated on 18 March 1885.
Altarpiece, windows and organ
The altarpiece was painted by Eilif Peterssen in 1886 and depicts the Road to Emmaus. The stained glass in the windows is by Carl Kristiansen, from 1930.
The current organ was built by Klais in 2013. The main organ has 58 stops, and there is a second organ with 9 stops. Before that, the church had an organ by Paul Ott from 1967. The bells comprise four bells from 1882 and a 36-bell carillon from 1990.
Opening hours and organ music
The cathedral is open to visitors. From 15 May to 31 August it opens Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturdays during the school holidays. From 1 September to 14 May it is open Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 14:00. It is closed to visitors during events. In summer a church guide is on hand.
In summer there is a free organ concert on Tuesdays at 11:00. On days when cruise ships are in port, there is usually around 30 minutes of organ music.
From Torvet the street grid leads north; beyond the street called Mølla begins Posebyen, the district of wooden houses. You will find more places in the centre under Sights.