St. Olavs katolske kirke on Akersveien is the main Catholic church in Oslo and the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Oslo. It was designed by Heinrich Ernst Schirmer in neo-Gothic style and consecrated in 1856, making it one of the first Catholic churches built in Norway after the Reformation.
Catholicism was effectively banned in Norway from 1537 until 1843, when the Dissenter Act allowed non-Lutheran congregations for the first time. The church was built just thirteen years later and served a tiny Catholic community that gradually grew through immigration. The interior is modest by European Catholic standards but has fine stained glass and a calm atmosphere that feels quite different from Norway's Lutheran churches.
The church sits in a quiet spot between St. Hanshaugen and Grünerløkka, a short walk from the city centre. It is open to visitors and still holds regular services.
Catholicism was effectively banned in Norway from 1537 until 1843, when the Dissenter Act allowed non-Lutheran congregations for the first time. The church was built just thirteen years later and served a tiny Catholic community that gradually grew through immigration. The interior is modest by European Catholic standards but has fine stained glass and a calm atmosphere that feels quite different from Norway's Lutheran churches.
The church sits in a quiet spot between St. Hanshaugen and Grünerløkka, a short walk from the city centre. It is open to visitors and still holds regular services.