Víðimýrarkirkja Turf Church in North-Iceland - is it the most beautiful of them all?

In this travel-blog I am going to show you a beautiful old turf church that is hidden away from sight in Skagafjörður in North Iceland. This little gem is called Víðimýrarkirkja church - a true masterpiece. 

Our third president, Kristján Eldjárn, once said that this turf church was one of the most clear-cut and beautiful relics of old Icelandic architecture there is. 

​Víðimýrarkirkja turf church

I think these old turf churches are all gems and cannot choose between them, but Víðimýrarkirkja church sure is beautiful.

Víðimýrarkirkja was built in 1834 by Jón Samsonarson MP and builder. The lychgate dates back to 1936, but the bells are much older; they were cast in 1630.

Víðimýrarkirkja in the wintertime

On the centennial of Grafarkirkja church in 1934, the Director of the National Museum, Matthías Þórðarson made plans to buy the church to preserve it as a national treasure.

The turf church was refurbished in 1936 and repaired in 1976 and again in 1997-1998.

By Víðimýrarkirkja turf church on a sunny day

Víðimýri is an old manor and in Sturlungaöld - the Age of the Sturlungs - the main habitation of the Ásbirninga clan.

Chieftains Kolbeinn Tumason (1173–1208) and one of the most powerful chieftains of the Age of the Sturlungs, Kolbeinn Arnórsson ungi (1208–1245), lived at Víðimýri.

Víðimýrarkirkja church

It is written in Sturlunga Saga - the Saga of the Sturlung clan that the powerful Chieftain Snorri Sturluson made a fortress here back in 1220.

So it can be seen that this land, Víðimýri, was indeed a most significant place here in Iceland. Snorri Sturluson - the most influential Icelander.

The whole area of Skagafjörður is a Viking area with a great deal of history, which I have written about in my travel-blog: The bloody Viking battles in Skagafjörður in North Iceland.

Víðimýrarkirkja turf church

You can see how yellow and dry the turf is in some of my photos. 

The turf has to be regularly renewed so sometimes the roof is green and lush. The timber is original though.

The building material is turf from the land of Víðimýri and driftwood from Skagi.

A cat by Víðimýrarkirkja turf church - see how the walls are made of turf

There has been a church at Víðimýri since the adoption of Christianity in Iceland in the year 1000.

The church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the Apostle Peter during Catholicism. 

Of the many ministers serving at this church, Guðmundur góði Arason was the best known, but he later became the bishop at Hólar in 1203-1237.

Víðimýrarkirkja turf church

​There are many old artefacts in this lovely church, f.ex. the Danish altarpiece, a triptych, which dates back to 1616 depicting the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.

The pulpit dates back to the 17th century. It is beautiful with paintings of Christ and the Evangelists.

Some of the artefacts from the church are preserved at the National Museum of Iceland.

Inside Víðimýrarkirkja turf church

I apologise for the quality of the photo, I took it back in 2008 with a small camera. Must pop up to Skagafjörður again to get better photos.

Inside the church, one can see the seating of earlier time after the Reformation in 1550 - men on one side (south) of the aisle and women on the other side (north). Ref. Þjóðminjasafn Íslands.

​There were plans of knocking this beautiful turf church down and building a concrete church in its place, but fortunately, Matthías Þórðarson, Director of the National Museum of Iceland, fought for its existence. 

This beautiful church has belonged to the National Museum of Iceland since 1936 and is a part of the museum's Historic Buildings Collection.

The legend Móðólfur in Mt. Móðólfsfell

There is a legend connected to Víðimýrarkirkja church, written in Þjóðsögur Jóns Árnasonar  - the Collection of Folklore of Jón Árnason.  It goes like this:

"Mt. Móðólfsfell is the name of a mountain peak by Vatnsskarð or in the mountains in the vicinity of Vatnsskarð. There is a cave in the mountain, but its opening is now blocked by collapsing rocks.

Once upon a time, a troll lived in that cave, by the name of Móðólfur.

Víðimýrarkirkja in the wintertime

The mountain is named after that troll. He enraptured a woman from the region.

The woman and the troll fell in love and the woman fell pregnant.

The foetus was so imposing that she couldn't give birth to it and died in childbirth.

Víðimýrarkirkja turf church in the dusk

Móðólfur the troll moved her body one night to the church at Víðimýri - in a skillfully made coffin.

The coffin stood in front of the church door one morning and next to it was a ring made of copper and a coil with runic characters, explaining what had happened - the copper ring was a gift to the church serving as a burial fee.

The body was buried at Víðimýrarkirkja church and the ring has since then been placed on the church door. It is said that Móðólfur went back to his cave and died of grief".

(Translated into English from Þjóðsögur Jóns Árnasonar - the Collection of Folklore by Jón Árnason).

The church is open during the summertime from June 1st - August 31st from 09:00-18:00 and there is a small entrance fee.

Víðimýrarkirkja turf church is located in Skagafjörður, south of Varmahlíð village. It is off ring road 1 as you drive up to or down from Vatnsskarð mountain pass.

See also: a brochure about Víðimýrarkirkja.

The information sign by Víðimýrarkirkja church

If you would also like to see a beautiful turf-house then you can visit Glaumbær in Skagafjörður, which is close by.

Let's remember to treat these beautiful turf churches with respect. There are only 6 of these extraordinary turf churches left in Iceland and they are fragile and cannot withstand too much traffic. To me, they are pure gems.

Have a lovely time in Skagafjörður :)