Hopperstad Stave Church

Also at the Hjemkomst Center, just outside the back door, we discover our second bonus of the day.

How absolutely gorgeous!  I'd trade in our log home for this any day!

The church, constructed of cedar, redwood and pine, is an exact, full-size replica of the Hopperstad Stave church in Vik, Norway.

How would you like to live in a country with a coast line like this - almost within walking distance of all of its citizens!  Over 15,000 miles!


Stave (referring to the construction) churches were built after the Viking Age in the 1100-1200's.  The use of vertical posts, or staves, evolved into wooden architectural works of art.  Guy Paulson began carving for this construction in January 1997, with the on-site construction beginning in August of that year.  The completed church was dedicated in 1998.  Eighteen 27-foot tall staves make up the core of the building, with the overall finished height of the church being 72 feet tall.  24,000 cedar shingles were used for the roofing.

See the covered porch all the way around?  This allowed people with leprosy to "attend" services and participate in communion as well as providing shelter for the church.

Gorgeous!!