This list of churches in Tunsberg is a list of the Church of Norway churches in the Diocese of Tunsberg in Norway. It includes all of the parishes in Buskerud and Vestfold counties. The diocese is based at the Tønsberg Cathedral in the city of Tønsberg in Tønsberg Municipality, Vestfold county. The diocese was formally established in 1948 when it was separated from the large Diocese of Oslo, although the occupation government during World War II also temporarily established the diocese of Tunsberg from 1942 to 1945, but that was not recognized by the King or the government-in-exile during the war.[1]
The list is divided into several sections, one for each deanery (prosti; headed by a provost) in the diocese. Administratively within each deanery, the churches within each municipality elects their own church council (fellesråd). Each municipality may have one or more parishes (sokn) within the municipality. Each parish elects their own councils (soknerådet). Each parish has one or more local church. The number and size of the deaneries and parishes has changed over time.[2]
Historically, this area was part of the old Jarlsberg prosti, which historically included the whole Jarlsberg county. In 1848, the old Jarlsberg prosti was divided into two: Nordre Jarlsberg prosti and Søndre Jarlsberg prosti. A royal resolution on 19 May 1922, the deanery name was changed from "Søndre Jarlsberg prosti" to "Sør-Jarlsberg prosti".[3] In 1948, the Diocese of Tunsberg was established and the old Sør-Jarlsberg prosti was renamed as Tønsberg domprosti, the seat of the new diocese. On 1 June 2007, the parish of Andebu was transferred from Tønsberg domprosti to Sandefjord prosti.[1]
In 1537, after the Reformation in Norway, Bragernes prosti was established as part of the Diocese of Christiania. It originally included the parishes of Aker, Asker, Bærum, Røyken, Hurum, Lier, Eiker, Modum, Sigdal, Flesberg, Rollag, Nore, Kongsberg, Sandsvær, Røyken, Hurum, Lier, and Bragernes–quite a large area. On 18 December 1739, the northwestern areas of the parish were separated to become the new Kongsberg prosti. This left the parishes of Aker, Asker, Bærum, Røyken, Hurum, Lier, and Bragernes in the Bragernes prosti. On 4 May 1819, the parish of Aker was moved to the Kristiania stiftprosti and the Bragernes prosti was renamed as Drammen prosti. In 1868, the parishes of Eiker, Modum, and Sigdal were transferred from Kongsberg prosti to Drammen prosti, and the parishes of Asker, Bærum, Lier, Røyken, and Hurum were transferred from Drammen prosti to Asker prosti. In 1941, the parishes of Lier, Røyken, and Hurum were transferred back to the Drammen prosti from Asker prosti. In 1971, the parishes of Nedre Eiker, Øvre Eiker, Modum, and Sigdal were transferred out of the Drammen prosti and moved to the new Eiker prosti. In 1999, the parishes of Lier, Røyken, and Hurum were transferred from Drammen prosti into the new Lier prosti. On 1 January 2020, Lier prosti was dissolved and the parishes of Lier Municipality were moved to Drammen prosti (the rest of Lier prosti was moved to Asker prosti which is part of the Diocese of Oslo).[4][5] On 1 January 2022, the parishes of Strømsø and Tangen were merged to form Tangen og Strømsø parish.[6] On 1 January 2023, the deanery was renamed Drammen og Lier prosti.[7]
Eiker prosti was established in 1971 when it was separated from Drammen prosti. Initially, the new deanery included the parishes in Nedre Eiker, Øvre Eiker, Modum, Sigdal and Krødsherad. On 1 January 2020, Nedre Eiker became part of Drammen Municipality, so it was transferred into Drammen prosti.[5]
Hallingdal prosti was established in 1914 when the old Ringerike og Hallingdal prosti was divided into Hallingdal prosti (to the northwest) and Ringerike prosti (to the southeast).[8] On 1 January 2020, the parishes of Gol and Herad were merged to form the new Gol og Herad parish.[9]
Kongsberg prosti was established on 18 December 1739 when the old Bragernes prosti was divided into two, with western parts of the deanery becoming the new Kongsberg prosti. Initially, the deanery included the parishes of Eiker, Modum, Sigdal, Sandsvær, Flesberg, Rollag, Nore og Uvdal, and Kongsberg. In 1867, Eiker, Modum, and Sigdal were transferred to the neighboring Bragernes prosti.[10]
The deanery was established in 1671 and it included parishes in Larvik, Lardal, and Sandefjord. In 1999, the eastern areas of Sandefjord were separated to form the new Sandar prosti (later renamed Sandefjord prosti).[11] In 2019, the three parishes of Svarstad, Styrvoll, and Hem were merged into one parish named Lardal.[12] On 1 January 2024, the parishes of Kvelde and Hvarnes were merged into Kvelde og Hvarnes parish.[13]
The deanery was established in 1848 when the old Jarlsberg prosti was divided into Nordre Jarlsberg prosti and Søndre Jarlsberg prosti. A royal resolution on 19 May 1922, the deanery name was changed from "Nordre Jarlsberg prosti" to "Nord-Jarlsberg prosti".[3][14] On 1 January 2018, the three parishes of Botne, Hillestad, and Holmestrand were merged to form the new Botne parish.[15]
The deanery was established on 1 March 1999 as Sandar prosti when it was separated from Larvik prosti. It originally included the parishes of Sandar and Sandefjord.[11] On 1 July 2006, the name of the deanery was changed from "Sandar prosti" to "Sandefjord prosti". On 1 January 2007, the parish of Andebu was transferred from Tønsberg domprosti to Sandefjord prosti.[17] On 1 January 2017, the parish of Stokke was transferred from Tønsberg domprosti to Sandefjord prosti.