The history of Old Vinje Church, Vossestrand. 1670-1872

Construction agreement with Magne Essem
Where did the timber come from?
The carpenter, Ola Botolvson Sundve
What happened after 1871?

Construction agreement with Magne Essem (for the Old Vinje Church).
Reference: Roald Lyngvær  and Kjell Nese : (Oppheim and Vinje kyrkjer, Voss 1971)
The middle age church had been used for several hundred years and was no longer suitable for it's use. Before 1670 the decision was taken that new churches should be erected in Vinje and in Oppheim parishes.
>From the church books for 1668-70 following information is found:
Paid to Magne Essem for timber, panels and much wood for the new church of Vinje, 70 Rdl (Riksdaler).
Also paid to Magne Essem and his assistants in accordance with contract for erecting the steeple, choir and arms room (våpenhus) for the new church in Vinje, 70 Rdl.
This Magne Essem was no other than Magne Knutson Eidsheim from Hosanger, north of Bergen. He was brother of the "lensmann" (sheriff) and sawmill owner Mogens Knutson Eidsheim. The Eidsheim brothers were between the first farmers that started construction work in larger scale in Bergen.
According to the church books he brought his own materials for the church and also brought his own people along with him.
It is reasonable to believe that the contract was made in Bergen by the bishop or his secretary, who is mentioned later in the books.
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Where did the timber come from?
The timber for the new church was cut in 1669-70. Vinje parish has always had a strip of wood in Oppheim parish. This strip of wood was named "Kyrkjeteigen"(the church strip).
Kyrkjeteigen is located east of Brandset. The trees grow slow there. The timber is likely from there. A close investigation would probably prove that
presumption.
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Carpenter Ola Botolvson Sundve (1632 - 1711)
Ola took part in building the old church in Vinje.  A petty soldier from Jämtland in Sweden had  taught him to make pure iron out of iron rich peat. He was one of the first to have an iron stove. Ola was a good blacksmith.  An axe that he made is still in the family in Sundve.
He also transported mail on the route between Bergen and Oslo.
    The axe he made (Photo Svein Ulvund)
             Photo of  a log that presumably was over the inner door in the church.. (Photo Svein Ulvund)

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What happened after 1872?
The church was disassembled in 1872 and  the furnishings were sold by auction.
The timber was used for a new community building in Vinje parish, which was used until 1964. .
In 1984 the old community building was disassembled by order of Voss community. At that time, the timber was intended to be used as fuel wood.
The timber was saved by a few, but  very interested persons and stored privately until 1995. (Read more below about the saving of the timber).Since 1995, the Voss Folkemuseum has taken care of the timber.
Photos of the timber

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More about how the timber was saved
    1866 The people of Vossestrand became two parishes Vinje Parish and Oppheim Parish, with their own vicar.
    1867 The decision to build a new church  was made
    1868  Vossestrand was separated from Voss and had it’s own community counsel. Vinje parish elected their local councilors, and Oppheim parish did the same. Together they elected the Council of Aldermen for the Vossestrand community. The first large task for the parish council in Vinje was to construct a new church.
 1871 Vinje Church was completed. The old church was thereafter disassembled and the timber was used for the community hall that was built in the vicinity of the new Vinje church. In Oppheim parish, the same was done.
    1936 A new community hall for Vossestrand Community was built next to the church in Vinje.
    1963 Voss, Vossestrand and Evanger communities were combined into one community named Voss, which became the legal owner of the old community hall.
    1984 Voss community decided that the old community hall should be disassembled. The athletic club ”Ørnar” was commissioned to disassemble the hall and to make fuel wood out of it.
Ivar L. Løne led the task. As the exterior finish was taken off,  he uncovered painting of the head of an Angel and a small part of the head of an Angel and a small part of an     Angel’s wing. He stopped the workmen and contacted the administration office in Voss community by phone. The reaction was negative.However, something had to be done to stop the destruction. He contacted lvar K. Lydvo and asked for assistance Ivar K.I.ydvo called the Chief Curator for Hordaland County, Nils Georg Brekke. The chief curator came immediately to the site and stopped further destruction, but he did not have the power to do rnore.
    Ivar K. l,ydvo, Styrkår Hirth and Sigmund Engeland discussed what more could be done. Voss community would do nothing and the Voss Folkemuseum could not take care of the timber at that time.
    Local volunteers removed the timber and it was stored temporarily in hay barns owned by Sigrnund Engeland. Ivar Sigmund and Styrkår continued in vain to find someone that was interested in conserving the old timber.
    Lars Kjønnagard wanted to use the old church timber for a "kulturhus"(culture house) on his land in Oppheim. This was stopped by some formal objections.
    1995 In the end, Lars Kjønnagard persuaded Voss Folkemuseum to accept the care of the old painted timber.

Last update Dec 25, 2002

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