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Silent Sunday…So Off to Church

Saksun-w

Saksunar Kirkja, Faroe

This has to be one of my favourite churches, so no excuses for showing it again. The grass roofed church of Saksun  located on the shores of a sea loch at the end of Saksunardalur.  The evocative dark mountains, the waters running down every crevasse, vegetation that is still a vibrant lush green even on the darkest of Faroe days all add to the drama of the location of this little church.

What make it even more interesting is that this church is in its second home. Originally it was located on the opposite side of the mountains at Tjornuvik.  But the congregation at that time had to make a very long trek to worship.  So in 1858 the church was disassemble, carried over the mountains and reconstructed where it is today. The task cannot have been easy, but being entirely constructed of wood made the task possible.  Stone walls have since been added at this new location.

When we were there the church was locked which was a shame….but that did nothing to detract from the spiritual feeling of solitude and peace, yet at the same time, a personal feeling of insignificant below the surrounding mountain. It possibly goes without saying that it was raining on our visit….on looking at other images of Saksun it would appear that this is the usual.  Maybe that was part of the beauty.

28th January

(C) David Oakes 2018

13 thoughts on “Silent Sunday…So Off to Church”

  3. It really doesn’t seem like there are too many church goers in this area either?
    Or could it possibly be that the younger generations of today feel they don’t need it in the same way any more?

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    1. Population as I understand it was once not large but still a very viable community….but youngsters like in many places want the busier glitzy life, so the number of locals is now very small (but the church was still worshiping each Sunday – probably thanks to the ownership of a 4×4)

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      1. Yes, I gather, but don’t quite understand this choice of location. If they felt the church was too far away, the obvious choice would be to re-build it where they were in fact living? (Walkable distance, so to speak? ) The world is full of surprised, but a fantastic motif.

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        1. I understand there was once a harbour and a base for fishing. It was at the time a safe protected harbour. But the narrow entrance became silted up and stopped boats safely entering. Farming, sheep mainly, was also important. Both activities faded and so people left. It never was a big population (and I couldn’t establish the size at its height) but people movement is nothing new.

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    1. One of the few remaining locals told us that many folk walked well over 8 miles or more to the church (the more wealthy and they were few came by pony) I suppose that isn’t so surprising when you realise that they carried the church over the mountains to relocate it….a tough breed. The Loch ( a sea loch) was once navigable and both a fishing harbour and mini port, well protected from the weather, but a constant build up of sandy silt has blocked the narrow entrance. So I guess that would have effected the population size.

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