Ustedalen Chapel
Ustedalen Chapel, formerly known as Geilo Church, is the third church in Hol municipality to be over 100 years old.
The church was originally known as Ustedalen Chapel before its name was changed to Geilo Church in 1988. After Geilo Cultural Church came into use, it regained its original name. The drawings were prepared by Jacob Wilhelm Nordan in 1886, and the building permit was granted the following year. The chapel was built by master builder Ole Olssøn Sollie from Torpo and was consecrated on June 1890.
Between 1958 and 1960, the chapel was extended westward with a larger entrance porch (narthex) designed by Leiv Tvilde. At the same time, it received its current interior color scheme, a larger baptistry and sacristy, toilets, and a mortuary in the basement. The slate roof was re-laid, and the tower was clad in copper. Since 1975, there has also been a cemetery at Bruhaugen.
Current Use
Regular church services are no longer held in the chapel, but it is still available for wedding ceremonies for a fee. Please see the current rates.
Church Building
Ustedalen Chapel is a wooden long church with seating for approximately 190 people. The nave is rectangular and has a roof turret at the western end, with an entrance porch in front of it. Beneath the porch is a basement containing a mortuary. At the eastern end is a narrower, straight-ended chancel surrounded by sacristies.
Interior and Furnishings
Inside the chapel, there is an organ gallery at the western end. The chancel opens into the nave across its full width through a three-part chancel arch, with narrower arches on either side. The chancel floor is one step higher than the nave floor. The pulpit is accessed through one of the side arches. The altarpiece is integrated with the altar, and its painting depicts the Crucifixion. The windows in the chancel wall behind the altar contain stained glass. The baptismal font is octagonal and chalice-shaped.
At the consecration, a borrowed organ was used, and the chapel received its own organ the following year. In 1960, a new organ was installed, built by J.H. Jørgensen. The chapel also inherited a bell from Torpo Church cast in 1886. According to the parish council, it did not have a satisfactory tone, and a new bell was purchased fromO. Olsen & Sønin 1892. ("Norges kirker" states that the original bell was recast.)
Cemetery and Surroundings
Although the first burial is said to have taken place on 16 October 1886, Norges kirker oddly states that the deceased died in 1875. The cemetery has been expanded several times since its modest beginnings, but it eventually became too small. In 1975, a new cemetery was opened at Bruhaugen, close to where Geilo Cultural Church was later built. It is now the main cemetery for the Geilo area, and the Cultural Church has also taken over as the parish church.
The old chapel now appears to be used mainly for special occasions, and according to the parish council, it is intended to be preserved in its present form. Grave searches can also be carried out here.
Between 1958 and 1960, the chapel was extended westward with a larger entrance porch (narthex) designed by Leiv Tvilde. At the same time, it received its current interior color scheme, a larger baptistry and sacristy, toilets, and a mortuary in the basement. The slate roof was re-laid, and the tower was clad in copper. Since 1975, there has also been a cemetery at Bruhaugen.
Current Use
Regular church services are no longer held in the chapel, but it is still available for wedding ceremonies for a fee. Please see the current rates.
Church Building
Ustedalen Chapel is a wooden long church with seating for approximately 190 people. The nave is rectangular and has a roof turret at the western end, with an entrance porch in front of it. Beneath the porch is a basement containing a mortuary. At the eastern end is a narrower, straight-ended chancel surrounded by sacristies.
Interior and Furnishings
Inside the chapel, there is an organ gallery at the western end. The chancel opens into the nave across its full width through a three-part chancel arch, with narrower arches on either side. The chancel floor is one step higher than the nave floor. The pulpit is accessed through one of the side arches. The altarpiece is integrated with the altar, and its painting depicts the Crucifixion. The windows in the chancel wall behind the altar contain stained glass. The baptismal font is octagonal and chalice-shaped.
At the consecration, a borrowed organ was used, and the chapel received its own organ the following year. In 1960, a new organ was installed, built by J.H. Jørgensen. The chapel also inherited a bell from Torpo Church cast in 1886. According to the parish council, it did not have a satisfactory tone, and a new bell was purchased fromO. Olsen & Sønin 1892. ("Norges kirker" states that the original bell was recast.)
Cemetery and Surroundings
Although the first burial is said to have taken place on 16 October 1886, Norges kirker oddly states that the deceased died in 1875. The cemetery has been expanded several times since its modest beginnings, but it eventually became too small. In 1975, a new cemetery was opened at Bruhaugen, close to where Geilo Cultural Church was later built. It is now the main cemetery for the Geilo area, and the Cultural Church has also taken over as the parish church.
The old chapel now appears to be used mainly for special occasions, and according to the parish council, it is intended to be preserved in its present form. Grave searches can also be carried out here.