Prestbakkakirkja á Síðu

Background

History & Background

Prestbakkakirkja á Síðu, as it stands today, was constructed in 1859. This wooden church, featuring a chancel and a choir loft, was designed to accommodate up to 220 parishioners. The master builder responsible for its construction was Jóhannes Jónsson from Reykjavík, who brought his expertise to this remote yet significant location in South Iceland. The church's design, with its distinctive white timber walls, red roof, and steeple, reflects traditional Icelandic ecclesiastical architecture of the period. The site itself, Prestbakki, holds a much older spiritual lineage, famously linked to Séra Jón Steingrímsson (1728-1791). He served as the resident pastor from 1778 until his death. Séra Jón was not only a gifted intellectual but also a highly energetic and versatile individual, whose reputation grew immensely during one of Iceland's most catastrophic natural disasters: the Skaftáreldar (Laki eruptions) of 1783. Séra Jón Steingrímsson is most famously remembered for his heroic actions and spiritual leadership during these devastating eruptions. It is widely believed that on Sunday, July 20, 1783, during a service at Kirkjubæjarklaustur, the relentless flow of lava miraculously halted just west of the settlement. This incredible event, occurring while Séra Jón delivered his powerful 'Fire Sermon,' was attributed by many to his profound spiritual strength and fervent prayers, which they believed stemmed the fiery advance, saving the community from certain destruction.

Prestbakkakirkja is a corrugated-iron-clad timber church completed in 1859 and protected for its cultural value. Prestbakki has a long ecclesiastical history, and Rev. Jón Steingrímsson lived and served in the district during the 1783 Skaftáreldar disaster. Visitors should distinguish that documented history from later miracle-style retellings of the famous Fire Sermon.