Þingvallakirkja Church

Located in the Þingvellir National Park, Þingvallakirkja is one of the oldest churches in the country. The current wooden structure dates from 185921, but the original church was consecrated in the 11th century. Inside are several bells from earlier churches, a wooden pulpit from the 17th century and a painted altarpiece from 1834. The cemetery behind the church is the final resting place of the independence era poets Jónas Hallgrímsson and Einar Benediktsson. The church is usually closed unless there are staff around.

Its anglicized name, “Thingvellier,” this breathtaking location was where the Althing parliamentary general assembly met between 930 and 1798. It has also been home to a church for over 1,000 years.

After Iceland accepted Christianity around 1000 CE, wood to build a church, and a bell to adorn its tower were sent from Norway as a gift from the delightfully named King Olaf the Stout, according to the history of Norwegian kings written down by Snorri Sturluson, the Icelandic poet and historian. It stood as a fine little addition to the lush natural surroundings where Iceland’s government formed and operated for centuries.

The church currently on the site dates back to 1859 and is called Þingvallakirkja. Small in size, but no less beautiful for it, the church, with its warming wooden interior, resembles more a snug cabin in the snow-filled, woods than a house of worship. The historic church has been repaired and updated a number of times down the years, but even today, the little church looks like something out of the past.

Next to the church is a modest cemetery of around 30 graves, a peaceful final resting place for a handful of souls, set in one the world’s most beautiful locations.

Source: atlasobscura.com

While many travelers are drawn to Þingvellir - or, as it is often called in English, "Thingvellier" - to experience the majestic landscape and historical significance of this place, there is a quiet, often overlooked place here: the parish cemetery. For generations he has served the local community, telling stories of bygone times and farms such as Vatnskot and Gjábakki.If you go here, you will find that among the modest gravestones lies the final resting place of church priest Heimir Steinsson, who died in 2000 and also served as the national park manager. When you walk through the cemetery you can feel the touch of history. Not long ago, on the occasion of the church's 150th anniversary in 2009, a large part of the cemetery wall was lovingly renovated and a new gate was created by students from Hafnarfjörður Technical University. Emphasis was placed on traditional woodworking techniques that emphasize the connection between past and present.In the immediate vicinity of the cemetery is the Þingvallakirkja, a church from 1859. Its history goes back to the year 1000 AD, when Iceland adopted Christianity and Norway received wood for church construction and a bell as a gift from King Olaf Dicken received. Although it has been repaired and modernized several times, it has lost none of its original charm. With its warming wooden interior and peaceful atmosphere, it is more reminiscent of a cozy cabin than a traditional place of worship.When you enter the church, you are surrounded by a peaceful silence that calms your mind and takes you back to another time. It is easy to imagine how parishioners have gathered here for over a millennium to pray in community and seek spiritual edification.