With good help from the translators at google
CHURCHES - LENSVIK CHURCH
Travelling by sea to Stadsbygd
Long before Lensvik church was built in 1863 the people of Lensvik for centuries had to pass over the Trondheim Fjord when they were going to church. This may currently seem cumbersome, but it was once the bay that was the road most travelled, and it was often easier to find their way by sea than on the bad country roads, even if it was to use oars or sail when the wind was right. And it was taken many strenuous hikes, and it happened that people were killed on these trips.
Despite the fact that the conditions were like this, 58 years passed from an accident that claimed eight lives to Lensvik church was built.
Confirmation classes were held on Stadsbygd until 1904, so calm and seal tours of the bay continued for a long time. The boats used were open "seksæringer" (three people rowing), "åttringer" and occasionally longboat.
Application for getting a church is sent
Already in autumn 1855 farmers in Lensvik in the southwestern part of the parish sent Rissa council an application for building a separate church. They were 65 people who agreed to seek to have their own church.
Placement
But where should the new church stand? Where was the best graveyard? There were two main places that were in question. One place was where Hamna farm is located. The second at the outlet of the river Lena, farm Melands reason. Both spots were well suited. Although some of the Committee held on the site by Hamna farm, so it was given in and agreed site at Meland.
Architect Grosch made drawings. He was incidentally one of the country's leading architects of the time. Builder Steffen Andersen Røe. He was 37 years old when he took it upon himself to build Lensvik church.
The church is built
It eventually went okay with the financing. The application for a loan was recommended by all authorities and endorsed by the Royal Decree of 11.02.1860.
The timber came from Rissa and were transported by sea. Timber portion consisted of 662 logs and of these, 102 a length of over 11 meters. The sawn be delivered by the then owner of Lower Ingdal, Johan Fredrik Selmer. All work was carried out with great zeal and enthusiasm.
Interest in the church construction was so great that people in the village of both sexes, both older and younger, voluntarily gathered moss in bags that were delivered to the builders.
Inaugurated on 26 October 1863
Monday 26 October 1863 was Lensvik church consecrated by Bishop Grimlund. Everyone wanted to go to church, so more than half a thousand people turned up at Meland this day. The first regular church service held in Lensvik church was the 8 November 1863. That Sunday there were 449 communicants.
Pastor Steen about the church
Later in the New Year in 1864 the vicar in Stadsbygd, Natan Steen wrote to bishop Grimlund and could tell about the recently consecrated church in Lensvik and of church life there: The new Church in Lens Vigen becomes every time I visit more dear to me. It is the easiest and nicest church I have ever officiated in, and the church shows a devotional and ecclesiastical silence, that can do nothing else but rejoice the heart.
Regards, Bente
