Lutheran Churches of Iceland

Everywhere you go in Iceland, even in the smallest of communities, you see a Lutheran Church (Church of Iceland). The church above in Budir is a Stadir church (built by the local equivalent of the Lord of the Manor to serve the needs of the local farmers) originally built in 1703 (and re-built in 1848).

The white Stadir style church above is in Hellnar, about 15 kilometers from Budir, and was built in 1748. It has an ornate interior with vaulted blue ceiling inlaid with stars and comfortably seats 40 people.

This modern church above is in Tálknafjordur in Iceland's West Fjord region. It's steeple is entirely glass and is above the altar, giving everyone inside a spectacular view of the village's harbor and the large fjord. The Church of Iceland is the established church of Iceland (93% of the population belongs to the state church) and is in full communion with the Church of England and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

And today we went to the 8pm service at Akureyri Lutheran Church, above and below (in Akureyri, North Iceland). The steps are rather formidable, but the view of the fjord from the top is spectacular. The church was built in 1940 and the stained glass windows around the altar were removed from Coventry Cathedral in England at the start of World War II in the event that the Cathedral be damaged in German bombing raids. The windows were sent to Akureyri for safe keeping (Iceland was invaded by England in April 1940 to keep it from falling into German hands after Denmark, the country ruling Iceland at the time, was invaded by Germany). Coventry Cathedral was destroyed in a German bombing raid on November 14, 1940 shortly after the opening of Akureyri Lutheran Church).