Hallgrimskirkja ~ Touring Reykjavik

Hallgrimskirkja is a Lutheran church in Reykjavik, and probably one of the most recognized landmarks of Iceland.

rear church view from Perlan Museum's 360º viewing deck

front of the church

The church was completed in 1986 and is named after the Icelandic poet and cleric Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674). The spire is 244 feet tall, making it one of the tallest structures in Iceland.

State Architect Guðjón Samúelsson's design of the church was commissioned in 1937. He is said to have designed it to resemble the trap rocks, mountains and glaciers of Iceland's landscape, in particular its columnar basalt "organ pipe" formations (such as those at Svartifoss). ~ Wikipedia 

Incidentally, Guðjón Samúelsson was the first Icelander to be trained in architecture.

the nave

It took 41 years to build the church; construction started in 1945 and ended in 1986.

the pipe organ

There are 5275 pipes on the electronic action organ. It weighs 25 metric tons and is 49 feet tall. It was commissioned in 1988 and completed in 1992 when the previous organ was determined to not be big enough by the church council. It is one of two organs in the church.

Some say the nave has the shape of a Viking helmet (refer to the first photo on this post). I think it looks like the churches and cathedrals we have seen, just much less opulent.

view from midway between front and rear

The congregation is served by two pastors, two organists, choirmasters, church wardens, youth representatives and staff in children's and youth work. ~  Hallgrímskirkja - The house and the story

A youth choir was practicing for the 11:00 service. We had about 10 minutes in the church before we were ushered out before the service. The organist is on the right. The choir was near the back of the nave.

This statue of Jesus was donated to the church in 1948. It shows Him receiving the Holy Spirit after being baptized in the Jordan. The statue also stands in the rear of the nave.

schedule of services and concerts

over the door of the church

half of the beautiful, colorful main door

backside of the statue of explorer, Leif Erickson

This statue was a gift from the United States in honor of the 1000th anniversary of the convening of Iceland's parliament at Þingvellir in 930. The statue stands in front of the church and was in place prior to the building of Hallgrimskirkja. (I am standing at this statue in the second photo in this post; the one with the view of the front of the church,)

Wikipedia and other sources have better photos of the church, the statues and the unique door.

Whenever we geocache in a new country, we receive a virtual souvenir on our geocaching profile. This is the souvenir for Iceland.