Minjasafnskirkjan

Background

History & Background

The church was built in 1846 at Svalbarð on the eastern side of Eyjafjörður. It was moved to the Akureyri Museum garden in 1970, restored and rededicated on 10 December 1972. It remains a consecrated church and a protected museum building.

Minjasafnskirkjan stands in the museum garden beside Akureyri Museum in the Old Town. The small, pitch-painted timber church was originally built in 1846 on Svalbarðsströnd, on the opposite side of Eyjafjörður, by the noted church builder Þorsteinn Daníelsson of Skipalón. In 1970 the church was moved to Akureyri and installed in the museum garden. After extensive repairs it was rededicated in December 1972. The building is protected and remains consecrated, while also serving as part of the museum collection and as a venue for ceremonies and concerts. Inside are older religious objects including a chandelier from 1688 and an altarpiece from 1806. The church works particularly well as part of a walking visit through Innbærinn, where several historic houses, Akureyri Museum and Nonnahús are clustered together.