Havnar Kirkja (Tórshavn Cathedral)

Havnar Kirkja (Tórshavn Cathedral) was built in 1788 north of the town as a replacement for Christian IV’s Church from 1609, which was located on Tinganes. It got its current form during a rebuild in 1865, when an extension on the south side was removed, a choir was built to the east, the tower was raised, large roundarched windows were inserted, the church was painted white and covered with slate. Further extensions to the east were made in 1935 and 1968. Inside, the gallery was extended so that it now extends from the western end, where the organ is located, and out to both the north and south sides.

The altarpiece, the Burial of Jesus, was painted by Ditlev Blunck in 1822‑24, and the church’s current interior colouring was done by Sven Havsteen-Mikkelsen. Havnar Kirkja was made a cathedral when the Faroe Islands became an independent diocese in 1990. The unifying importance of the cathedral for the diocese and the country’s population is seen at the annual church service prior to the opening of the Løgting on the 29th of July. Since 2020, the church’s altar has on this occasion been adorned with the antependium Olavsøkuklæðið, designed by Edward Fuglø and produced at the Tapisserie Pinton tapestry in the town of Aubusson in France. The church carillon from 1952 is now automated and plays five times a day.

Further reading

• Building style on the Faroe Islands
• Churches on the Faroe Islands
• Landsbókasavnið
• Líkhús
• Religion and religious communities on the Faroe Islands
• The bishop’s palace complex
• The Magnus Cathedral
• The parish church in Kirkjubøur
• Tradition and tales on the Faroe Islands

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