Sunday, July 24, 2016

Churches on Washington Island

Two very different churches are on Washington Island, Wisconsin. The one on the right reflects part of the Scandinavian heritage of the people on the Island.

In the Middle Ages, it wasn’t uncommon to see "stave churches" made of wooden posts and pillars scattered throughout Scandinavia. Today, there aren’t many of the churches left, but there’s a growing interest in building new churches that resemble the style — a prominent example of which stands on Washington Island in Wisconsin's Door County. The foundation for the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church's stave church (modeled after a church in Borgun, Norway) was built in 1991 and completed three years later. The wooden church is mainly used for ceremonial purposes such as weddings, while the main church building which holds the regular mass is located across the street. The stave church is only open seasonally, but the convincing air of Norwegian history permeates year-round. 
Saint Michael's Chapel has an interesting history: Located on Jackson Harbor Road, in the 1800’s it was constructed as the Washington Harbor School. In 1900’s the building was moved to the present location and became Koyen’s General Merchandise Store. During 1964 it was purchased by the Lehman family and transformed into St. Michael’s Chapel.  In 2004 the building was renovated to serve the next generations of Island Friends. Open to the public.

14 comments:

  1. I've never been in a stave church but always thought them interesting. They've got "character.'

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  2. I like the look of both of these buildings and enjoyed learning the history too.

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  3. Strange and nice to see a "Stavkirke" where you are.
    (Built in 1991, than I call it new.)
    I have been to a few, more on the east side of Norway, and one in Heddal near Notodden in Telemark.

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    1. I am so happy that you saw this and commented. I love the Stavkirke church on the Island and enjoy visiting it whenever I am there. Next to your country, almost everything we have is "new!" :)

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  4. The Save church is amazing to see.

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  5. Good to know the history of these two very different churches. Good post.

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  6. I've never seen a star church before!

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  7. Good history lesson of these two churches.

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  8. There's something almost tropical about the stave church.

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  9. Both churches are rich in history. I wouldn't have thought the stave church was so relatively young.

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  10. Kate, I love the Scandinavian church. Its a very nice one!

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  11. The stave church is unlike anything I've seen.

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  12. Love the stavekirke replica.

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  13. There is a home here in Colorado that was built the resemble a Stave church. Wish you would take pictures inside.

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