..
A church was built in Reykholt
in the early years of Christianity in Iceland. Chieftains at Breiðabólstaðir
established the church and five of them were priests in Reykholt until
the last one sold the benefice to Snorri Sturluson in the year 1206.
..
A church estate was founded in Reykholt before or at
the mid 12th century. This meant that the church took possession of Reykholt
including several other farms and properties. The so-called Contract of
Reykholt (Reykjaholtsmáldagi), a list of properties and rights of
the local church, comes from this period. It is the oldest preserved original
document written in Icelandic. A church at Reykholt is consecrated in the
name of God, Peter the Evangelist, Mary the Mother of God, the virgin martyr
Barbara and Bishop Dionysius.
..
From 1297 until the Reformation, bishops in Skálholt
ruled in Reykholt and delegated priests to the church. In the years 1550
through 1567 two lawyers had the feudal rights to the land including church
income. One of these men was Oddur Gottskálksson, who translated
the New Testament into Icelandic. It was published in Roskilde, Denmark
in the year 1540.
..
The new Church
and Snorrastofa
|
..
..
After 1567 the same family resided at Reykholt consecutively
for 185 years. Some clergymen of this family were among the foremost scholars
and scientists of their time. Reverend Jón Halldórsson, named
after Hítardalur, was a son of a clergyman from Reykholt and the
father of the bishop Finnur Jónsson, the author of Historia Ecclesiastica
Islandiae. His son was Hannes Finnsson, the last of the bishops to reside
in Skálholt before the episcopacy was moved to Reykjavík.
These men collected a large archive of ancient documents, which later shared
in the foundation of The National Archive. Jón Sigurðsson used
their research as a source in his publication of Diplomatarium Islandicum
(Íslenskt Fornbréfasafn), as well as in other scholarly and
political writings. These related men, often referred to as "The Men from
Reykholt" (Reykhyltingar) were pioneers in the research field of two major
cultural institutions: The Árni Magnússon Institute in Iceland
and The National Archive.
..
A new church was built in Reykholt in the years 1988-1996,
and it was consecrated on St. Olafs Day in summer 1996.
..
In conjunction with the church building, the future building
of Snorrastofa is also constructed.
..
..
|
These church bells are among the very oldest belongings
of the parish. The larger one is thought to be from the 13th century, and
the other one has the year 1742 embossed on it and the following verse
inscription:
..
Klocken lyder
tiden gaar
Gud samle os
i engle kaar
..
(The bell tolls
time goes
God gather us
among angels) |
|
|