In 1818, a tragic event occurred when the boat from Kirkja, which all able-bodied men in the village rowed out with, was lost south of the village, and all the men perished, except for the farmer of Mittún. However, he and his wife died a few years later from typhoid fever, which was a devastating blow to the village.

Just as devastating was the decision by the governor shortly afterward to move the church to Hattarvík, as “there is no man left who can be entrusted with the responsibility for the church.”

Now, there was no church in Kirkja, and it would take 100 years before another was built—the one that stands today.

As the centenary of the church’s relocation approached, the idea emerged to build a new church in Kirkja. The support from the community was overwhelming.

Work began with excavating the foundation, breaking stone, and laying the walls, while the carpenters prepared the large wooden structures so they could be placed once the foundation was completed. The construction progressed incredibly quickly from start to finish.

The foundation work was led by Petur Pauli Poulsen, while the carpentry was overseen by Jóannis Kristensen í Mittúni. Much of the work was voluntary.

The church was designed by Louis Zachariassen, who was born and raised in Kirkja. He based the design on the old wooden churches, and the blueprints were a gift to the church.

It was a great day for the congregation in Kirkja when the church was finally completed and consecrated on May 28, 1933. The dean Jákup Dahl led the consecration, accompanied by many other priests.

(Source: J. P. Gregoriussen, “Nýggjaru Kirkjurnar”)

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