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Coordinates: 64°08′30″N 21°55′36″W / 64.1417°N 21.9266°W / 64.1417; -21.9266
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'''Hallgrímskirkja''' ({{IPA-is|ˈhatl̥ˌkrimsˌcʰɪr̥ca}}, ''Church of Hallgrímur'') is a [[Lutheran]] ([[Church of Iceland]]) parish church in [[Reykjavík]], Iceland. At {{Convert|74.5|m}} tall, it is the largest church in Iceland and among the [[List of tallest buildings in Iceland|tallest structures in the country]].<ref name=Hyperion>{{cite AV media | date= 1997 |title= Organ Fireworks VII – Christopher Herrick at the organ of the Hallgrimskirkja |medium= CD |publisher=Hyperion }}</ref> Known for its distinctively curved spire and side wings, it has been described as having become an important symbol for Iceland's national identity since its completion in the 1980s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Benárd|first=Aurél|date=2018-09-01|title=Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík. A Late Example of Expressionist Church Architecture|url=https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/jbe-2018-0006|journal=YBL Journal of Built Environment|language=en|volume=6|issue=1|pages=86–102|doi=10.2478/jbe-2018-0006}}</ref> The church is named after the Icelandic poet and cleric [[Hallgrímur Pétursson]] (1614–1674), author of the [[Passion Hymns]].<ref>Other Icelandic churches named in memory of the same Hallgrímur are the Hallgrímskirkja in [[Langanes|Saurbær]], where Hallgrímur was minister, and since 1957 the church of the same name in [[Kjósarhreppur]].</ref>
'''Hallgrímskirkja''' ({{IPA-is|ˈhatl̥ˌkrimsˌcʰɪr̥ca}}, ''Church of Hallgrímur'') is a [[Lutheran]] ([[Church of Iceland]]) parish church in [[Reykjavík]], Iceland. At {{Convert|74.5|m}} tall, it is the largest church in Iceland and among the [[List of tallest buildings in Iceland|tallest structures in the country]].<ref name=Hyperion>{{cite AV media | date= 1997 |title= Organ Fireworks VII – Christopher Herrick at the organ of the Hallgrimskirkja |medium= CD |publisher=Hyperion }}</ref> Known for its distinctively curved spire and side wings, it has been described as having become an important symbol for Iceland's national identity since its completion in the 1980s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Benárd|first=Aurél|date=2018-09-01|title=Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík. A Late Example of Expressionist Church Architecture|url=https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/jbe-2018-0006|journal=YBL Journal of Built Environment|language=en|volume=6|issue=1|pages=86–102|doi=10.2478/jbe-2018-0006}}</ref> The church is named after the Icelandic poet and cleric [[Hallgrímur Pétursson]] (1614–1674), author of the [[Passion Hymns]].<ref>Other Icelandic churches named in memory of the same Hallgrímur are the Hallgrímskirkja in [[Langanes|Saurbær]], where Hallgrímur was minister, and since 1957 the church of the same name in [[Kjósarhreppur]].</ref>


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==Description==
Situated on a hilltop near the centre of Reykjavík, the church is one of the city's best-known landmarks and is visible throughout the city. State Architect [[Guðjón Samúelsson]]'s design of the church was commissioned in 1937. He is said to have designed it to resemble the [[trap rock]]s, [[mountain]]s and [[glacier]]s of Iceland's landscape,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hallgrimskirkja.is/um-hallgrimskirkju/|title=Um Hallgrímskirkju|date=May 26, 2015}}</ref><ref name=AAA /> in particular its [[columnar basalt]] "organ pipe" formations (such as those at [[Svartifoss]]).<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Benárd|first=Aurél|date=2018-09-01|title=Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík. A Late Example of Expressionist Church Architecture|url=https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/jbe-2018-0006|journal=YBL Journal of Built Environment|language=en|volume=6|issue=1|pages=86–102|doi=10.2478/jbe-2018-0006}}</ref> The design is similar in style to the [[expressionist architecture]] of [[Grundtvig's Church]] of [[Copenhagen]], Denmark, completed in 1940, which has been described as a likely influence, alongside the expressionist [[Kirche am Hohenzollernplatz]] in Berlin, Germany (completed in 1933).<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Benárd|first=Aurél|date=2018-09-01|title=Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík. A Late Example of Expressionist Church Architecture|url=https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/jbe-2018-0006|journal=YBL Journal of Built Environment|language=en|volume=6|issue=1|pages=86–102|doi=10.2478/jbe-2018-0006}}</ref>

Architecturally, Hallgrímskirkja consists of three parts: The tower with the distinctly curved side wings which house service facilities, a [[nave]] in more traditional architecture, and a sanctuary at the other end of the nave, whose cylindrical shape has been described as evoking Viking war helmets.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Benárd|first=Aurél|date=2018-09-01|title=Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík. A Late Example of Expressionist Church Architecture|url=https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/jbe-2018-0006|journal=YBL Journal of Built Environment|language=en|volume=6|issue=1|pages=86–102|doi=10.2478/jbe-2018-0006}}</ref>

It took 41 years to build the church: construction started in 1945 and ended in 1986, but the landmark tower was completed long before the whole church was finished. The [[crypt]] beneath the choir was [[consecration|consecrated]] in 1948, the [[Steeple (architecture)|steeple]] and wings were completed in 1974,<ref name=AAA>{{cite journal|last=Noyes|first=David|title=Iceland – Europe's coolest little hot spot|work=Going Places|publisher=[[American Automobile Association|AAA]]|date=March–April 2009|page=&nbsp;28}}</ref> and the [[nave]] was consecrated in 1986.<ref name=Hyperion /> At the time of construction, the building was criticized as too old-fashioned and as a blend of different architectural styles.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Steinsteypuöldin|url=http://ruv.is/sarpurinn/ruv/steinsteypuoldin/20160915|language=en|access-date=2017-01-18}}</ref> The church was originally intended to be less tall, but the leaders of the Church of Iceland wanted a large spire so as to outshine [[Landakotskirkja]] (Landakot's Church), which was the cathedral of the [[Catholic Church in Iceland]].<ref name=":0" />

The interior is {{Convert|1676|m2}}.{{citation needed|date = September 2020}}

The church houses a large [[pipe organ]] by the German organ builder [[Johannes Klais]] of [[Bonn]]. It has electronic action; the pipes are remote from the four [[Manual (music)|manuals]] and [[pedal keyboard|pedal]] console. There are 102 ranks, 72 stops and 5275 pipes.<ref name=Hyperion /> It is {{Convert|15|m}} tall and weighs {{Convert|25|MT}}. Its construction was finished in December 1992.

The church is also used as an [[observation tower]]. An observer can take a lift up to the viewing deck and view Reykjavík and the surrounding mountains.{{Cn|date=January 2022}}

The statue of explorer [[Leif Erikson]] (c.970 – c.1020) by [[Alexander Stirling Calder]] in front of the church predates its construction. It was a gift from the United States in honor of the 1930 [[Althing]] Millennial Festival, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the convening of Iceland's [[parliament]] at [[Þingvellir]] in 930&nbsp;AD.<ref name=AAA />


== Opening hours ==
== Opening hours ==

Revision as of 16:17, 1 March 2022

This article is about the church in Reykjavík. For the church in Hvalfjarðarsveit, see Hallgrímskirkja (Hvalfjörður).
Hallgrímskirkja
Map
64°08′30″N 21°55′36″W / 64.1417°N 21.9266°W / 64.1417; -21.9266
CountryIceland
DenominationLutheran
Websitehallgrimskirkja.is
History
StatusActive
Founded1945
Consecrated26 October 1986
Architecture
Functional statusParish church
Architect(s)Guðjón Samúelsson
StyleExpressionist Neo-Gothic
Completed1986
Specifications
Spire height74.5 metres (244 ft)
Administration
ParishReykjavík
Clergy
Bishop(s)Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir

Hallgrímskirkja (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈhatl̥ˌkrimsˌcʰɪr̥ca], Church of Hallgrímur) is a Lutheran (Church of Iceland) parish church in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 74.5 metres (244 ft) tall, it is the largest church in Iceland and among the tallest structures in the country.[1] Known for its distinctively curved spire and side wings, it has been described as having become an important symbol for Iceland's national identity since its completion in the 1980s.[2] The church is named after the Icelandic poet and cleric Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674), author of the Passion Hymns.[3]

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Opening hours

  • Winter (October – April): 10 am – 5 pm
  • Summer (May – September): 10 am – 9 pm[4]

Views of Hallgrímskirkja

  • View from the top of Hallgrímskirkja
    View from the top of Hallgrímskirkja
  • Chancel of Hallgrimskirkja
    Chancel of Hallgrimskirkja
  • Hallgrímskirkja at night
    Hallgrímskirkja at night
  • Nave of Hallgrimskirkja
    Nave of Hallgrimskirkja
  • The pipe organ
    The pipe organ
  • The tower from the side
    The tower from the side
  • Main door
    Main door
  • Sanctuary
    Sanctuary
Buildings in the city center of Reykjavik covered in snow, the airport on the left, the harbor in the middle and behind that the Atlantic Ocean, in the distance mountains covered with snow and a partly broken cloud cover.
Panoramic view from the top of the Hallgrímskirkja

References

  1. ^ Organ Fireworks VII – Christopher Herrick at the organ of the Hallgrimskirkja (CD). Hyperion. 1997.
  2. ^ Benárd, Aurél (2018-09-01). "Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík. A Late Example of Expressionist Church Architecture". YBL Journal of Built Environment. 6 (1): 86–102. doi:10.2478/jbe-2018-0006.
  3. ^ Other Icelandic churches named in memory of the same Hallgrímur are the Hallgrímskirkja in Saurbær, where Hallgrímur was minister, and since 1957 the church of the same name in Kjósarhreppur.
  4. ^ "Hallgrímskirkja – Reykjavík".
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