Midtgulen Church - History

History

The old municipality of Bremanger comprised some areas around the Gulafjords, while the majority of people lived on the island of Bremangerlandet where the "sokn" church was located. The local people of Midtgulen promoted the church issue more in the form of a wish rather than a demand, and they discussed the matter more among themselves than with the vicar.

The first vicar in the parish, Ulrik Koren, was not particularly enthusiastic about building a church at Kjelkenes, as this would imply crossing the sea of Frøysjøen in all kinds of weather. The vicar on his part took no initiative to build more churches in the parish.

When the people of Gulen got an auxiliary graveyard in 1879, this was a step closer to getting their own church. In the early 1890s, the matter was formally put on the agenda for the local council. There was no discussion whatsoever concerning the location of the new church; it had to be next to the graveyard.

The people of Gulen got a fine and suitable church site close to the pine forest in the sheltered bay of Hjellvika. Various organisations and individuals joined forces to work and give gifts as the church was being built. The Gulen Rifle Club paid for the coloured window panes used in the church until the restoration work in 1954. The local youth organisation donated money for the first organ, and the congregation raised money for the baptismal font, and other objects and furniture.

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