Gildeskål

Gildeskål- old and new

The oldest church was built in 1130 or in the middle of the 11th century.  It is built from local marble and the walls in the entrance are 1,6 metres thick. The church was burned down in 1711 because a lightning hit the tower.
The little red hut, which you can see in the picture is the entrance hall. In there everyone had to put off his/her weapons. Because weapons were not allowed in the church.

baptise cave

Within the church rich people were sitting in a box to be separated from the mainaudience. Also student were allowed to sit there - these were mostly the sons of the rich people. Now those boxes are in barock style - although they were not in fashion anymore in the 17th century, you can still see them in this church. In this church are quite many of those boxes. One in the front, two in the back and on the stage, where the organ is placed. These boxes and some of the benches were private property, so someone payed for it. If those people were not able to come to the church no one was sitting there, because it was kind of prohibited. In former times one of these boxes was used for baptising the young children. This box is placed as far away from the altar as possible. Because children weren´t part of the community until they were baptised. Also the mother wasn´t allowed to go immediately after birth to church, she had to wait some time.

Young people were almost sitting in the same place and girls and boys were not separated. So the church was kind of social place to get to know each other and meet. 
The bench at the very end of the church was really narrow and only people from the mountain had to sit there - kind of separation (they didn´t like the people from the mountains too much). Most of those people were Samis. People who were not able to come to the church had to pay a fee.

The church was also a really important place for farmers, some of them had their own benches inside and the farmers used the church as meeting point. Gildeskal was kind of community insurance. If something bad happened to a farm, for example it burned down, the farmers met there and find a solution how to help the other farmer. People who were working at a farm where mostly just working for getting food and living there. The farmer had to take care and pay for the funeral, if one of his workers died.

natural paintings

drawings from 1711 and 1754

Gottfried Ezekiel was the painter of the drawings in 1711 and 1754 - the first one is the marble structure on the benches and the second one are the cave drawings. In the 18th century the natural paintings on some of the benches were drawn. In former times only the caves of the rich people were coloured the rest of the church was only wood without any colour.

wedding chair with vowel

old wedding chairs

The wedding chairs were from different sizes in former times. The broom´s chair was higher in comparison with the bride´s chair. The reason for that was that the bride had to listen to what the broom is saying. Now the chairs are equal and you can find the wedding vowels on the back of the chairs. In this church are only some weddings during summer.


The holy part of the Church (area around the altar) was only for the priest, which means that only the priest was allowed to be there. Now you can walk around the altar and get the bread there. Inside the altar is a relic, which no one touched since the altar was built. The altarcloth says:

"Ora pro nobis" - Saint Thomas



This means "Pray for us". Saint Thomas is the Saint of fishermen, that`s the reason why he is mentioned on the altarcloth. You can also find hourglasses on the altar. These were for the priest`s speech. So everyone could see how much time is left. But some of the priests just turned the hourglass again, if they wanted to say something else.

altar

The altarpiece/ altarwindow behind the altar is quite small. there would be another huge one, but it was too big for the old church, so they placed it in the new one. Before the window, which you can see on the Picture, there was a more simple one - only with a cross on it.
This window is now placed in the entrance.




In front of the altar on a part of the ceiling you can find a picture, which is quite unusual. During the Second World War the people living near the church tried to hide every important and valuable thing in the church. This specific picture was hidden in a barn with hay. When the people found it the restored it and put it up there.


All in all the restauration of the church took a really long time. The people didn`t care that much about the old church. They even used it for their animals to have a warm Place for them.

Today a golden plate from Russia is used for the holy water, which is needed for the process of baptising. This plate shows Katharina the Great. They scientists are quite sure that it must be Katharina the Great because of the nose (really big nose).

baptistry

If you have an insight into the church you can find one of the priests`s casooks. This priest from the 17th century must have been a really huge one. We also heard a story about him, ehich I want to tell you now:
This priest had two sons. One day, when their father was celebrating a mass, they played a trick on him. They removed the fur of a dog, who was standing in front of the church and sent him afterwards inside. Because of this trick the whole Family got banned. And it is said that since that time the family suffered from many illnesses. One of the sons died and the other one tried to apologize by giving a ship to the church. But he fell Down a Cliff and died. 100 years later a woman of this family came to the church`s priest and asked him to remove the bann. So they gathered 100 people in the church and the priest blessed them. - In this spring the family got unusually many calfs.

priestscloth

ship - present from the son

The new church is in gothic style and is held in the national colours (blue/red and white). Which can also be found on the ceiling above the altar.

church from outside

inside

altar plus altarpiece - ceiling with national colours

5. Gildeskål kirke

 Gildeskål kirke was built around year 1130. But people think that altar is much more older, it was on the same place from earlier times, probably in older, wood church.
 The church is L-shaped, second part of church is newer, built after fire in 1711. Interior is from 1760 and main artwork are from years 1711 and 1754 made by German artist Gottfried Ezechiel. Interesting are preserved galleries and boxes which were private for rich people to be separated from the poor people. Tour guide told us, that during 18. century when many churches were reconstructed people saw this boxes old-fashioned, so they burnt them. That is why it is rare to see it nowadays despite it was quite common in past times. If you were Sami people or not from local community, you had uncomfortable seats in the back of the church. And there were no seats for really poor people (in norwegian legt), who did not own a land or house, they were working on another farm just for accommodation and food.
In back of new part is also "baptise box". Interesting are new and old wedding chairs. The old one - for woman was chair lower, which symbolizes that woman was subordinate to men. Nowadays chairs are same size and in the same level (interesting symbol of equality of rights). Also there is old golden plate which originally comes from Russia, because in past times russian ships came to Norway because of trade.

Old part of church

On the left is old part and on the right new one, built after fire in 1711

Golden plate originally from Russia

Altar

On the left new wedding chairs, on the right old one - left is lower for bride and second one, higher for groom

 Finally I want to mention the most interesting facts (in my opinion most interesting one :) ).
First one is that in each church we visited here in Norway you can find a ship that is heading east. That shows how is this country connected with sea - sea gives food and in the same time it is a way for trade, travelling.
Secondly I find interesting information, that this church and Bodin church are unusually more far away from the sea. This fact is actually connected with Vikings and their sacred places. I find really interesting, that people in old times used to live with Viking's slowly took over their holy places. Actually altar from this church is supposed to be on place, which had sacred importance for Vikings.

Gildeskål Church

This 12th century medieval stone church can look back on a long history full of social gatherings, myths and tragedies. Built in about 1150 a.d. (approximately 150 years after the Christianisation in whole Norway), it is a part of Bodø’s “Nordlandsmuseet”, where qualified staff give tours for interested visitors through the church and the surrounding landscape. With their courage, they help the church stay a cultural heritage which must be retained throughout the centuries. 

The word “Gildeskål“ in earlier times was translated as „festivity-house“, because people all around the county came together (as a duty of any true believer) in these rare occasions. Here, men and women were allowed to sit together in the upper benches in the back, where they eventually might find a potential future marriage partner. Nevertheless, even in the house of god not every person was considered to be equal. People of different social ranks used different entries into the building. The average man used an ordinary door in the back, whereas wealthy citizens used an extra entry with roofing, where they could / were supposed to leave their weapons during church service. Especially those wooden boxes are noticeable, here were the noble ones situated, the family of the pastor (living in a house nearby) as well as landlords and the altar boys. In the back, you can find two boxes: one for baptizing, and one for a loyal church-visitor, whose portrait can be seen nowadays inside this box. After his death (probably a great loss for the parish), his coffin was buried beneath his former seating place to worship his position in the church, and only a guarding policeman was allowed to take his place.  In the front of the church, you can also find the “church boat” (very common in Norway) hanging from the ceiling, symbolically demonstrating that “we are all sitting in the same boat”, albeit not being the case. Coming to church as an obligation doesn’t mean that everyone came voluntarily, and there had been reserved (and uncomfortable) benches for Sami and Beiarn-people. The poorest ones (often meaning: not owning a farm) had to cower on steps near the ground.

There are also some architectonic details that shouldn’t be forgotten. The used marble is a rare one, coming directly from the region. Furthermore, a huge picture thematises the Christian revelation: all the world’s kings are heading towards the one and only Lord. This picture was found in a barn outside of Tromø due to the fact that people feared the church could be bombed during the 2^nd World War and therefore protected important art pieces. In the church, you can find old and new art (such as from Gottfried Ezechiel), because of a huge fire in the year 1711. The whole interior burned down, so everything had to be renewed. The groundplan’s original size was extended to an “L”-form. This year, the organ has its 150 years anniversary. The benches, boxes and ornaments had been reconstructed as they did look like in earlier times, not representing the current “fashion”. So the interior is one from the Baroque era, but the altar is kept pretty plain and simple. The saying on the colourful carpet from around 1450 can be translated to “Pray for us, St. Thomas” and might be traced back to holy Thomas Becket (archbishop of Canterbury), who was killed in 1170. His story spread around whole Europe, and he later on became saint of the fishermen. The interesting story behind this man is explained online, e.g. on http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/becket.htm (01.12.2015).

Discovering history museums

With our course, we have up to now been to several different history museums.

Bodo history museum

 This museum gives a variety of historical aspects: how the city was build before and after World War 2 where it was bombed; living style; hospital; air craft; and Sami people. Every part of this topics is presented in a very small area. There is not much to see; though it give you an insight in how it was happening.

If I would consider going there with a school class, I had to take a guide to lead the pupils through the exhibition. It is difficult for kids to get the information from the boards. There are enough facts written on boards but in my opinion pupils remember it easier if they can connect with stories. What is very interesting is the part of the Viking's jewellery.
The museum also offers a short film covering Bodo's history. This video gives a lot of information. When you visit the museum with a school class, I would watch this film maybe even twice -  before and after the tour through the exhibition.

Heroy museum

is a very old house; it was built in 1850. Originally it was the priest's farm house where he lived and worked, next to the church.

kitchen and dinning table

Today it is a museum where nearly nothing was changed within the house.
You can see all the old stuff like music instruments, clothes, kitchen utensils, bedrooms, dinning table etc.




It is very interesting for pupils because they can discover the life how it used to be on their own; there is no guide and no information boards needed. They can walk around in the two floored house and experience each room on their own, in their speed.

Sometimes guided tours are too slow or more often too fast and pupils are not able to get all the information. But if they can go on their own it is a huge advantage.

In this case, the Heroy museum, I, as a going-to-be teacher, would give them some tasks to fulfil and let them search for themselves. Pupils will remember the things they saw much better because they can connect with it and can even make up their own stories.

clothes

There are even workshops offered where you can e.g. attend a baking-bread course.

 Mosjoen history museum

belongs to the group of Helgeland Museum. It is a cooperation of many different museums all over Helgeland. It was opened in 1925.
In Mosjoen the museum is about its history, in particular about economy and living there.
This town did not exist before 1850s. First, farmer and fishermen settled there because of the big amount of wood and the good fishing areas. These were also the first industrial sectors. Therefor a lot of crafts men were necessary, and so the population rose.  

different crafts men: baker, police man, fisher

crafts men

Another - still - main sector is the aluminium production. It is very important for the employment.








The museum is a very good place for going with pupils. It offers a big range of pictures and information. You won't need a guide. There is even a bigger leaflet providing lots of information before hand. So it is possible to prepare pupils before going to the museum.




One point to consider is the lightning in the exhibition rooms. It is some places very dark. Additionallly, it would be great if there would be some areas for kids to try things out, e.g. dress themselves up as in usual in former times.

With all the pictures, tools, and everyday objects, it is as interesting for adults as for kids. In the attic there is also the possibility to do workshops.

Petter Dass and the Petter Dass-Museum

Petter Dass has been a big poet and priest in the 17. Century in Helgeland or more specific in Alstahaug. He has a central role in the Norwegian cultural history and is known for his special way to poetize, which is characterized by the nature and living conditions of Northern Norway in that time. Dass is also known as one of the most outstanding Danish-Norwegian poets of his time.

Petter Dass was born in 1647 at Herøy, an island in Helgeland. In the age of 13 he travels to Bergen to start his education at a Latin School. In 1666 he moves to Copenhagen and starts his studies there. Two years later he returns to Helgeland and starts to work as a teacher of a priest´s family and thereby gets involved in his later career as a priest himself, which starts in 1671 as a chaplain. Even though he was married and had two sons he became a priest in 1689. He publishes his first song “Den Norske Dalevise” (The Song of the Dalesman”) in 1683, but most of his songs got popular and published after his death in August 1707. He wrote his texts and hymns to strengthen the people’s faith and to teach them how to act, how to be a human being, which is why his poetry is used in churches until today. His most famous song is called “Nordland Trompet”.

The main exhibition in the Petter Dass-Museum deals with the social and religious preconditions of Petter Dass´s time as a writer. Thereby it looks closer at the person Dass itself, his life as a poet and his life as a priest. The exhibition is not arranged in a special order, so you can just go in and start wherever you want. The new building also helps underlining Petter´s love for nature and his role as a connector between the past and the future. The building itself is integrated into a hill and fits perfectly into the nature. Just like Petter always wrote about his nature and surroundings, the museum connects with its surroundings itself, it is melting together with the nature. Since Dass´s hymns and texts are still in use until today, telling about the life in the 17. Century, he connects our past and our future indirectly. The museum does the same. It is build out of glass, so that the visitors are on the one hand able to feel the close connection to the nature all the time, but it also builds a bridge between the past and the future. On the side of the entrance you can

see the old church Alstahaug, build in 1200, which presents the past, while on the other you look out into the nature and the sea, always in movement, always changing and thereby representing the future. The exhibition itself shows in a lovely way the life and work of Petter Dass and it is really great to be able to listen to his music in such a great atmosphere.

Traditional norwegian house

Hello everyone!

The second day of our trip in Helgeland we saw a traditional norwegian museum-house, where you could find all kind of old fashion objects from the 19th century. So, it was a tipical building from Nordland and inside there were tematic rooms, that is to say, each room of the house was focuss in one action of the daily life. 

We started the visit eaitng our lunch and handmade bread in a cozy room, that was part of the museum. That meal gave me the energy that I needed to concentrate in the museum. We started in the kitchen, where I saw all kind of kitchen tools that normally nowadays you can find, but this ones were from many years ago. We continue with the living room, children's room, a small classroom and so on. It was amazing to see all the old tools that they used for the daily life. It is a really complete museum that takes you to another century and that way you can make and idea of how the society was like or how they lived many years ago, when tecnologies were not used.

Kitchen

Kitchen tools

Classroom

Underwear

Underwear

Children's room

Medicines

At first I was afraid I would not like it and my motivation was not really high, but little by little I started to have more and more interest and at the same time my motivation rised up: I wanted to see all the tools that I could and I wanted to know all their uses. On the one hand, this visit made me think in the importance of the interest and the motivation in the learning process and the strong relation between both of them. In kindergarten education, is really important to know how to turn on the interest and motivation in all the puppils. In fact, a lack of those in the learning process will sadly end in failure. On the other hand, it also made me think of the big change in the way of life:  Before it was possible to live without technologies and nowadays we are completely dependent on them. I think that we don't have to reject the progress and that we should take advantage of it. So I am in favour of technologies in the classrooms, but I also think that should be necessary to teach how to use them in a properly way.