Stave Churches

Stave Churches Hannah Murray

Honors 3120.01 March 12, 2014

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Motes of dust move randomly through the colored shafts of air, and the grotesque sulls and tongues of !ooden gargoyles carved from darer memories line the lintel a"ove the door. # !al to!ard the altar  !here Christ$s sad face is cro!ned  "y an ancient vine !hose loose thorns are "lunt and rusted remains of medieval nails. %he dar "ody of !ood s&lits along the grain, and a thin !hite "lood flo!s. #t forms icicles that dri& in the dim light of morning sun. %here are many others neeling !ith me,  "ut they have no !eight. 'ld (orse and )atin hymns are sung in silence, and their lo!ered eyes "urn !ith faith. %he lilies are gone, and no! the altar is covered "y !ildflo!ers. %he first tourists of the day arrive on a small "us. # !al to!ard them,  "ut they cannot see the dra!n cross"o! in my hands, or the &aired !olves !aling "y my side. **+cer&t from -rayer and /ision in the Stave Church at ldal,- "y %ed enttinen Stave Churches, or stavkirker , are !ooden churches "uilt "y /iing tri"es !hen they !ere first converted to Christianity in the eleventh century. hen Scandinavian tri"es "egan to "uild large shi&s and to go a*viing5 around the ninth century, their targets !ere often monasteries and churches, as they !ere usually !ealthy and &oorly defended. %hese raids gave the /iings an early e&osure to Christianity, and small /iing grou&s that settled in #reland, +ngland, and 6rance intermarried !ith the local  &o&ulation and !ere some of the first /iing converts.

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#n 787, under Charlemagne5s initiative, the 9nglo*Saon St. illi"rord esta"lished a "isho&ric in remen :in modern north!est ;ermany