This story is posted on behalf a member from California, Gwendalyn Gilliam who is the author of this story.
I was recently fortunate enough to travel to Arendal, Norway my ancestral home where I found the churches my family were baptized in.
The town is quite beautiful, sweet and safe. They had a small soccer field with a tournament going on with teams of four-on-four and I noticed one of the players had only one leg and yet was included. Across the street from the soccer field was the church where I thought my great grandfather, Carvel Neils Olsen, had been baptized but, thanks to the church pianist who happened to be present, I found out it was the church that was built to replace the church where he was baptized. I did find photos within the church of the original (older photo, exterior and painting of the interior, attached). However, the original was round and the baptistry was very interesting. It had an angel holding the bowl where the water was held for the baptisms.
The pianist played a beautiful song, I believe perhaps by the Norwegian composer, Grieg. I was very fortunate to have caught him there. Those jobs I hear are very difficult to come by and one has to be an excellent musician to get that job. He explained that while the church was being built some founding father of the town absconded with funds. So, the bricks had to be of the lowest quality which is why they are continually needing to be replaced at this time and indeed there was scaffolding and repair going on on the outside of the building when I was there. There was also at the time of my grandfather a fjord, or canal of a fjord, running right next to the church which has since been blocked up because it had become very unpleasant smelling. There were plans to re-dig it and create it so that the water flowed all the way through and did not back up but there was a dilemma of who would pay for this work.
The second church, Austre Moland, where my great-great grandmother Katrine Bertelsen Olsen was baptized, was a little bit outside of town and was only open by appointment. So, I agreed to go there an hour after a wedding had been scheduled. However, when I got there a few minutes early, the caretaker had already left and I was not allowed inside. It was a beautiful setting on a grassy Hill next to a pond and I still enjoyed being near my family. There are pictures online of the very old church built in 1727 that is still standing in perfect condition (the white one).
I should also mention one beautiful feature of this town was a very tall escalator that was free and open to the public that took you up above the town to look over the entire town and bay (pictures attached). The pink tunnel takes you to the elevator. All-in-all a lovely and fulfilling experience. Also I am in touch with and got to have a nice conversation with one of my surviving cousins in Norway. Her name is Britt Marit Weiding and she lives far up the coast and in the mountains. She was ill the day I was there, so I did not go to see her. We are going to exchange pictures, though! She was the last of 100 DNA matches I had contacted and she responded within hours.
Trinity Church as it stands today, built to
replace the structure where my great-grandfather
was baptized.
Inside Trinity Church today
Another view inside Trinity Church today
Exterior photo of original Trinity Church
Interior photo of original Trinity Church
Picture of Austre Moland Church
Overlooking Arendal with Trinity Church in the background
Pink tunnel to overlook elevator