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Located in the fjord of Eyjafjordur in Noth Iceland, Grundarkirkja is one of Iceland‘s most beautiful and distinct churches. It is unusual for an Icelandic church in that its architecture rather resembles a Russian one, particularly its spire.

The church was comissioned by farmer Magnus Sigurdsson and consecrated in 1905. Magnus cut the glass in the church himself. The head smith of the church was Asmundur Bjarnason. The church is indeed the largest of all churches comissioned by farmers in Iceland.

Records mention a church in the area of Grund as early as the 12th century, the age of civil war in Iceland. Chieftain Thordur kakali lived in the area for a while in that time and so did chieftain Sighvatur Sturluson, brother of Snorri. He died in the largest battle in Iceland, Orlygsstadabardagi.

Thorunn, the daughter of Jon Arason, Iceland‘s last Catholic bishop, lived in the area in the 13th century. After her father was beheaded in Skalholt on command of the Danish Lutherian authorities, her brutal revenge became legendary.

Relics from the church, i.e. a chalice from the 15th century and a chair from the days of Thorunn, can be seen at the National Museum.