Church of Norðskáli (Video) – (Autumn)

Norðskáli is a village in the Faroe Islands with 312 inhabitants (January 1, 2025[1]). It is located, like the slightly more southerly Oyrarbakki, on the west coast of Eysturoy, north of the bridge built in 1973, the Streymin Bridge, Faroese “Brúgvin um Streymin,” over the Sundini strait to Streymoy. The church dates from 1932 and was extended to twice its length in 1977. Most of the houses are of more recent date. Hósvík is part of the Sunda municipality.

Due to the major development of transport in the 1970s, Norðskáli became centrally located. This provided the basis for new jobs such as a fish factory, foundry, and service businesses such as a shopping center and a café with a shop.

History
Norðskáli is originally an old village from the Middle Ages. The few fields around the village meant that in the past there was only a basis for a few settlements. In 1584, the village is mentioned as Norder ved Skaale.

In the Sundini strait outside Norðskáli, there has long been a bank with mussels. This was not only locally significant as food, but also as a source of income.
After 1800, the population grew as the residents also had the opportunity to earn a living through fishing and trade.
The first school was built in 1898, but nowadays the children attend the community school in Oyrarbakki.
The church Norðskála kirkja was consecrated on January 10, 1932, by provost Jákup Dahl. When the church was built, it had a tower at the west end.
It was constructed of concrete and stood in white-plastered masonry with a red asbestos roof. It had 5 round-arched windows on each long side.
The tower had a pyramid roof. In the chancel gable was a round-arched niche.

There was access to the church both from the north and south through the tower. In 1977, the church was extended to the northeast, and the tower received additions on each side, with roofs sloping upward just below the louvered openings. On the facade of the new tower, there is a round-arched window on each side of the large entrance door and two smaller ones above the door. The roof is now black, and the doors and window frames are green.