Molde Cathedral

The cathedral is a double-nave basilica that has a free-standing bell tower next to the main building. The cathedral seats about 1000 people. The church building is shaped like a long "basilica", but with a central aisle and another on the north side, but not on the south side. The entrance consists of two copper-clad doors surrounded by fields in natural concrete under a gable roof. The square campanile (bell tower) is at the church's southwest corner, and it is approximately {{convert|60|m}} tall. Behind the church's main entry doors to the west, there is a spacious rectangular foyer which leads into the sanctuary.{{Cite web |title=Molde domkirke |url=https://www.molde.kommune.no/modules/article.aspx?ObjectType=Article&Article.ID=6037&Category.ID=3128 |publisher=Molde kommune |language=Norwegian |accessdate=2013-05-17}}

The first church in Molde was built in 1662 and it was a wooden, cruciform building. The original site of the church was about {{convert|40|m}} to the north of the present church.{{Cite web |title=Molde gamle kirkested |url=http://www.kulturminnesok.no/kulturminnesok/kulturminne/?LOK_ID=84974 |access-date=2021-07-21 |publisher=Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage |language=Norwegian}}{{Cite web |title=Molde domkirke |url=https://www.norske-kirker.net/home/more-og-romsdal/molde-domkirke/ |access-date=2021-07-23 |website=Norges-Kirker.no |language=Norwegian}}

In 1814, this church served as an election church ({{langx|no|valgkirke}}).{{Cite web |title=Valgkartet |url=http://1814.arkivverket.no |access-date=2021-07-23 |website=Valgene i 1814 |publisher=Arkivverket |language=Norwegian}} Together with more than 300 other parish churches across Norway, it was a polling station for elections to the 1814 Norwegian Constituent Assembly which wrote the Constitution of Norway. This was Norway's first national elections. Each church parish was a constituency that elected people called "electors" who later met together in each county to elect the representatives for the assembly that was to meet at Eidsvoll Manor later that year.{{Cite web |title=Valgkirkene |url=https://lokalhistoriewiki.no/wiki/Valgkirkene |access-date=2021-07-23 |website=LokalHistorieWiki.no |language=Norwegian}}{{Cite web |title=Om valgene |url=http://1814.arkivverket.no/#about-elections |access-date=2021-07-23 |website=Valgene i 1814 |publisher=Arkivverket |language=Norwegian}}

In 1841–42, the church was heavily renovated and large portions being rebuilt in essentially the same style. On 17 May 1885, a cannon was fired from the heights above the church in a salute celebrating a holiday. Unfortunately, the cannonball struck the church tower, causing a fire which destroyed the church. In 1887, a wooden neo-Gothic dragestil long church was built to replace it in 1887. This building was designed by Henrik Nissen. This church burned down during the bombing of Molde on 29 April 1940 (during World War II). After the war was over, planning for a new church began, to designs by architect Finn Bryn (1890-1975), who was awarded the contract after winning a competition for a new church in Molde in 1948. The new church would be built about {{convert|40|m}} south of the old church site. Total costs came in about {{NOK|3 million|link=yes}}. The foundation stone was laid in 1953 and it was completed in 1957. The new building was consecrated on 8 December 1957.{{Cite web |title=Molde domkyrkje |url=http://mr.kulturnett.no/institusjon/molde-domkyrkje |publisher=Kulturnett Møre og Romsdal |language=Norwegian |accessdate=2013-05-17}}{{Cite web |title=Molde domkirke kirkested |url=http://www.kulturminnesok.no/kulturminnesok/kulturminne/?LOK_ID=84975 |access-date=2021-07-21 |publisher=Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage |language=Norwegian}}

The cathedral has been the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Møre since its establishment in 1983. The following Bishops have served in this cathedral:

• Ole Nordhaug (1983-1991)
• Odd Bondevik (1991-2008)
• Ingeborg Midttømme (since 2008)

Molde Cathedral 2009 1.JPG|Campanile (bell tower)

Molde domkyrkje.jpg|Exterior (looking east)

Molde Kirche.jpg|Exterior tower (looking northwest)

View of Molde church.jpg|Exterior (looking northeast)

MoldeDomkirkeInni.jpg|Interior

S. 27 - Molde stereofotografi - no-nb digifoto 20150803 00295 bldsa stereo 0585.jpg|View of the exterior

S. 27 - Molde stereofotografi - no-nb digifoto 20150803 00287 bldsa stereo 0577.jpg|View of the interior altarpiece

• List of cathedrals in Norway
• List of churches in Møre

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.facebook.com/moldedomkirke Facebook]
• [http://www.molde.kirken.no/nb-no/menighetene/moldedomkirkemenighet.aspx Official website] {{in lang|no}}
• {{commons category-inline|Molde domkirke|Molde Cathedral}}

{{Cathedrals of Norway}}

{{Churches in Molde}}

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{{use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}

Category:Cathedrals in Norway

Category:Lutheran cathedrals in Norway

Category:Buildings and structures in Molde

Category:Churches in Møre og Romsdal

Category:Long churches in Norway

Category:Brick churches in Norway

Category:20th-century Church of Norway church buildings

Category:Churches completed in 1957

Category:1662 establishments in Norway

Category:National Romantic architecture in Norway

Category:Art Nouveau church buildings in Norway

Category:Norwegian election churches