In the Faroe Islands you will find a remarkable number of beautiful churches, and it quickly becomes clear that religion plays an important role in Faroese culture. Around 85 percent of the population belongs to the Faroese Evangelical Lutheran Church, one of the smallest state churches in the world. In 2007 this national church became independent. Before that it functioned as a diocese of the Church of Denmark. Scattered across the Faroe Islands you will find 62 churches in total. In this article I will show you six particularly special churches in the Faroe Islands.
Read this article in DutchSt Olav’s Church (Ólavskirkjan) in Kirkjubøur, Streymoy
Of all the churches I mention in this article, the parish church St Olav’s Church is the one closest to Tórshavn. You will find it under its Faroese name Ólavskirkjan in Kirkjubøur, about a fifteen minute drive from the capital. The church dates back to the 12th century and is the oldest church in the Faroe Islands. It is also the only medieval church that is still in use today. For a long time the church was known as Virgin Mary Church, until it was later renamed St Olav’s Church.
A short walk away stands the ruin of Saint Magnus Cathedral, known in Faroese as Kirkjubømúrurin or Magnus-katedralurin. The cathedral was built in the 14th century and, according to tradition, was once considered one of the most beautiful churches in Scandinavia after it was completed. After the Reformation the cathedral was dismantled. Remains of its interior, such as church benches, are now on display at the Faroe Islands National Museum, Tjóðsavnið, in Tórshavn.
Sandavágur Church (Sandavágs Kirkja) in Sandavágur, Vágar
The colourful Sandavágs Kirkja stands in the village of Sandavágur on the island of Vágar. The church, which is almost twenty metres long and about ten metres wide, was built at the end of the First World War. Research has shown that in the three hundred years before this church was built, at least six other churches stood on this same spot.
Sandavágur Church is one of the most colourful churches in the Faroe Islands and is often jokingly called the gingerbread church. On the altar you will find a painting that is estimated to be around one hundred and fifty years old. The church stands on a small hill close to the coast, which gives it a lovely view over the beach and Sandavágs Bay. If you are planning a walk to Sørvágsvatn, also known as Leitisvatn, I would definitely recommend stopping here on the way to take a closer look at this striking Faroese church.
Church of Viðareiði (Viðareiði Kirkja) in Viðareiði on Viðoy
Viðareiði Kirkja on the island of Viðoy was brought into use in 1892, after the older church from 1831 no longer met the needs of the village. The church is built from stones taken from the coastline, and the silver inside comes from Britain. In 1847 the British merchant ship Marwood lost its rudder during a severe winter storm and drifted helplessly at sea for three weeks. The ship eventually ran aground near Viðareiði, where the local inhabitants took care of the crew. As a thank you, the British Royal Navy donated the church silver.
The church of Viðareiði stands in an extraordinarily beautiful spot, right by the water with a breathtaking view. From here you look out towards the island of Borðoy, with Kalsoy rising behind it. When I walk around here during my journey through the Faroe Islands, I hardly meet anyone at all. In Viðareiði it truly feels like you have reached the end of the world.
Funningur Church (Funnings Kirkja) in Funningur on Eysturoy
In the Faroe Islands you can still find ten traditional wooden churches. One of them stands in the remote village of Funningur on the island of Eysturoy: Funnings Kirkja. Personally, I think this is one of the most beautiful churches I have seen in the Faroe Islands, and also one of the most beautifully located. The church looks out over Funningsfjørður and towards the neighbouring island of Kalsoy. It really is a picture perfect spot.
Funningur Church was consecrated in 1847. The other nine wooden churches in the Faroe Islands were all consecrated before that, which makes the church in Funningur the youngest of the ten traditional wooden churches. Funningur Church is the only wooden church in the Eiði parish and at the same time the oldest one there. In 1929 Gjáarkirkja, the village church in nearby Gjógv, was brought into use. This meant that the inhabitants of Gjógv no longer had to make the one and a half hour walk along the Mannagøtan path to Funningur to attend church services.
The church stands on what used to be a small island called Niðri í Hólma, which means ‘down on the islet’. On both sides of the church there is a cemetery, the old one and the new one. Between the church itself and the newer cemetery, established in 1941, the river Stórá flows into the fjord.
Church of Saksun (Saksunar Kirkja) in Saksun on Streymoy
Until the middle of the nineteenth century, the inhabitants of Saksun walked all the way to Tjørnuvík on the other side of the island of Streymoy to attend church services. When the church in Tjørnuvík was inspected and found to be in poor condition, the advice was to build a new church. The people of Saksun were not keen to contribute to the construction of a new church in Tjørnuvík, especially since it was largely used by them. Instead, plans were made to build their own church in Saksun.
The church in Tjørnuvík was taken down and parts of it were carried on foot to Saksun. There, the church was rebuilt, although in a different way than it had been in Tjørnuvík, as the building was in poor condition. The wooden walls were replaced with stone outer walls, and in 1858 Saksunar Kirkja was consecrated.
Saksunar Kirkja stands in Saksun, a remote village in the Saksunardalur valley. Long ago this was a fjord, but a storm in 1600 caused the narrow entrance to become blocked with sand, leaving a lagoon behind. Today the lagoon can only be reached by small boats at high water. Saksun is often described as one of the most beautiful villages in the Faroe Islands.
Church of Tvøroyri (Tvøroyra Kirkja) in Tvøroyri on Suðuroy
Not everyone who visits the Faroe Islands also makes it to the island of Suðuroy. If you do, Tvøroyra Kirkja in Tvøroyri is one of the first things you will notice when you arrive by boat. The church was made in Norway and brought to the island as a prefabricated structure, where it was placed on a stone foundation that had already been prepared for a church. In 1908 the church, which can accommodate around five hundred people, was brought into use.
Before the population growth at the end of the nineteenth century, Froðba was the place on Suðuroy where the church was located. There are indications that churches were already being built here in Celtic times. In 1840 the last church in Froðba was constructed. Sixteen years later it was moved to Tvøroyri, and a few decades after that the present church in Tvøroyri was built.
Your trip to the Faroe Islands
You can fly to the Faroe Islands from Amsterdam with a transfer in either Billund or Copenhagen. To compare routes, travel times and prices, it is easiest to check a flight comparison website and see which option fits your plans best.
By ferry to the Faroe Islands
Would you rather explore the islands with your own car? In that case you can travel to the Faroe Islands by ferry. The ferry sails from Hirtshals in Denmark to Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands. You can drive to Denmark with your own car and take it on board, although it is of course also possible to travel without a car. If you are travelling without a car, the easiest option is to fly to Aalborg in Denmark. There is a good train connection between Aalborg and Hirtshals, and the journey takes about an hour.
Renting a car in the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are perfect for a road trip with a rental car. Hiring a car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and reach even the more remote corners of the islands. Many travellers choose an all in rental option, which means you are fully insured, do not have to worry about unexpected costs and get any excess reimbursed in case of damage.
If you want to compare different car hire companies in the Faroe Islands, you can use a comparison website to find the best deal for your trip. It is always worth checking carefully how you are insured, so you do not end up facing unexpected costs afterwards. Clear and complete insurance coverage makes a big difference when you are travelling in a place where weather and road conditions can change quickly.
Organised trips to the Faroe Islands
If you prefer not to deal with planning and booking everything yourself, a package trip can be a good alternative. Some travel companies offer journeys to the Faroe Islands with your own car, including the ferry crossing from Denmark and accommodation in different places across the islands.
If you would rather fly and explore the islands with a rental car, there are also packages that combine flights, accommodation and a car in one booking. This way you still travel independently, but everything is arranged in advance and taken care of in one go.
