Andreas Nilsen Grenstad (1821-1895) was a Norwegian architect who was best known for the churches that he designed. His nickname was ''Anders Kirkebygger'' (Andreas the church-builder). Grenstad was born on the Grendstad farm in what was Klæbu Municipality in Søndre Trøndhjems county in 1821. As an adult, he lived mostly in and around Mosjøen in

Vefsn Municipality Vefsn ( sma, Vaapste) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Mosjøen (population: 9,843). Some of the notable villages in Vefsn i ...

. During the second half of the 19th century, Grenstad established himself as an architect and builder. His sons helped him with his business as well. The family had a sawmill as well as a boat building side business. They would often use the boats they built to go fishing in the Lofoten area. In 1860, he was one of the founders of a bank in Mosjøen. For a time around 1865, Grenstad was also a local politician who fought for farmers' rights. In 1951 during the restoration work of Valberg Church, a letter was found under the floor that was written by Grenstad. It read: "This church is built by Andreas Grenstad from Vefsn, Mosjøen, in the year of 1888, when it also was finished. Two of his sons participated in the work. This is the 8th church built by me, in addition to 7 others I have contributed to. Fifteen churches in my time in total. Now I will be 67 years old later this month. Andreas Grenstad is born on the farm Grenstad in Klæbu."

Name

Spellings in 19th century Norway were not formalized and historical records can vary with spellings of his name. His last name may vary between Grenstad, Grendestad, Grendstad, or Grinstad. His first name varies as well with spellings of Andreas, Anders, or Nils (a short form of his

patronymic name A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, alt ...

Works

Grenstad is known to have designed nine churches in northern Norway: * Grane Church (1860) * Mo Church (1860) *

Korgen Church Korgen Church ( no, Korgen kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Hemnes Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Korgen. It is the church for the Korgen parish which is part of the Indre Helgeland ...

(1863) *

Vevelstad Church Vevelstad Church ( no, Vevelstad kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Vevelstad Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Forvika. It is the main church for the Vevelstad parish which is part of the S ...

(1871) * Stamnæs Church (1881) *

Drevja Church Drevja Church ( no, Drevja kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Vefsn Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the Drevja area of northern Vefsn. It is the church for the Drevja parish which is part of the Indre He ...

(1883) *

Rødøy Church Rødøy Church ( no, Rødøy kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Rødøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located on the island of Rødøya. It is one of the churches in the Rødøy parish which is part of the No ...

(1885) * Valberg Church (1889) * Nevernes Church (1893)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grenstad, Andreas 1821 births 1895 deaths 19th-century Norwegian architects People from Vefsn Norwegian ecclesiastical architects