Lofoten, Norway #6: Churches Part 2

[Mike Buckley]

Haukland Church
I created a separate thread to discuss this church because, unlike the churches presented in the other thread, a story goes with this church that is more than about just the church itself.

The church was probably established in about 1945, as the earliest deaths marked on its cemetery's grave stones were from about that time. If I'm right about that, notice the relatively modern presentation of the cross, especially modern in the context of other Lofoten architecture of small buildings.

I was intrigued by how nicely the flowers are maintained at the grave sites. Then I discovered the gardening tools hanging on the far side of the church. Indeed, while my wife and I were there, a couple living in the area filled up buckets of water and watered all of the flowers in the cemetery.

Notice the rays of sun displayed on the marker in the last photo. Those rays surely signify the midnight sun. There were similar references on other grave stones, probably because the cemetery is on a hillside overlooking an expansive beach that makes it possible for the buried to have an unobstructed view forever of the midnight sun.

[FrankMi]

A strong sense of loving care of the gravesite of the departed. Beautifully maintained, particularly in image #3.

[dabhand]

Mike,

On my monitor I can see #2 on top of #3 - makes for quite an emotional combination IMHO.

Super images.

steve