Old Stordal Church

The white, wooden church was built in an octagonal style in 1789 to replace an earlier stave church on the site. The building was designed by local priest Ebbe Carsten Tønder who died four years before construction was completed, so it must have been planned at the time of Norddal Church (completed 1782). Tønder came from Trondheim and may have been inspired by the two older octagonal churches there. Interior While the exterior is plain white, the interior (walls, columns, ceiling) is richly decorated. The style is 18th century renaissance. Along walls there are images of Biblical characters and events. The five "bad maidens" and five "god maidens" are depicted on the north wall, or the left hand side that was traditionally women's side. The message reads: "Do not be reckless like the bad maidens that lost their bridegroom and forgot their beatitude." David and Goliath and Samson and the lion are also on the north wall. The apostles are portrayed on the south wall, while the evangelists can be seen above the entrance to the choir. ==History==

The earliest existing historical records of the church date back to 1432, but it wasn't new at that time. The first church in Stordal was a wooden stave church that may have been built in the 14th century. The church is listed in Aslak Bolt's cadastre and later records. Hans Strøm in 1766 described the old stave church: "It is a small and modest stave church, that is not particular in any way. The building is maintained by the congregation that also owns it." The church was described as being rectangular and measuring . In 1788, the old stave church was torn down and replaced by a brand new church on the same site the following year. The church from 1789 is still standing, but it was taken out of use in 1907 when the new Stordal Church was built. In 1908, the old church was purchased by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments which has preserved it as a museum since that time. ==Gallery==

File:Außen schlicht, innen farbenfroh, die alte Kirche von Stordal. 02.jpg|Group of visitors in the church File:Außen schlicht, innen farbenfroh, die alte Kirche von Stordal. 04.jpg|Pulpit File:Außen schlicht, innen farbenfroh, die alte Kirche von Stordal. 01.jpg|Altar, crucifix, baptismal font File:Rosekyrkja Markus lucas.JPG|Marc and Luke, the evangelists File:Rosekyrkja bad maidens.JPG|The five "bad maidens", message below File:Rosekyrkja ceiling.JPG|Ceiling, rope to church bells File:Außen schlicht, innen farbenfroh, die alte Kirche von Stordal. 03.jpg|Model ship over nave File:Außen schlicht, innen farbenfroh, die alte Kirche von Stordal. 05.jpg|Seats with name of owner File:Rosekyrkja decorated door.JPG|Message on entrance door File:Außen schlicht, innen farbenfroh, die alte Kirche von Stordal. 07.jpg File:Stordal-gamlekyrkje-HH.jpg File:Stordal gamle kyrkje side.JPG File:Rosekyrkja mot nord.JPG|View to north, entrance left hand File:Stordal gamle kyrkje mur.JPG|Stone fence, east facade File:Rosekyrkja tower.JPG|Tower ==See also==