Oslo bishopric is the Church of Norway's

bishopric In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

for the municipalities of

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...

Asker Asker ( no, Asker), properly called Askerbygda in Norwegian, is a district and former municipality in Akershus, Norway. From 2020 it is part of the larger administrative municipality Asker, Viken (also known as Greater Asker) in Viken county, ...

and

Bærum Bærum () is a municipality in the Greater Oslo Region in Norway that forms an affluent suburb of Oslo on the west coast of the city. Bærum is Norway's fifth largest municipality with a population of 128,760 (2021). It is part of the electoral ...

. It is one of Norway's five traditional bishoprics and was founded around the year 1070.

History

Oslo was established as a diocese in 1068. It was originally a suffragan of the archdiocese of

Hamburg-Bremen The Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen (german: Fürsterzbistum Bremen) — not to be confused with the modern Archdiocese of Hamburg, founded in 1994 — was an ecclesiastical principality (787–1566/1648) of the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic ...

, from 1104 on of that of Lund and starting from 1152 on of Nidaros. It then covered the (modern) counties of

, Akershus,

Buskerud Buskerud () is a former county and a current electoral district in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark and Vestfold. The region extends from the Oslofjord and Drammensfjorden in the southeast to Ha ...

(except

Hallingdal Hallingdal ( en, Halling Valley) is a valley as well as a traditional district located in the traditional and electoral district Buskerud in Viken county in Norway. It consists of six municipalities: Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol. ...

Hedmark Hedmark () was a county in Norway before 1 January 2020, bordering Trøndelag to the north, Oppland to the west, Akershus to the south, and Sweden to the east. The county administration is in Hamar. Hedmark and Oppland counties were merged int ...

(except the northern part of

Østerdalen Østerdalen () is a valley and traditional district in Innlandet county, in Eastern Norway. This area typically is described as the large Glåma river valley as well as all its tributary valleys. It includes the municipalities Rendalen, Alvdal ...

Oppland Oppland is a former county in Norway which existed from 1781 until its dissolution on 1 January 2020. The old Oppland county bordered the counties of Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The c ...

(except

Valdres Valdres () is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between the districts of Gudbrandsdalen and Hallingdal. The region of Valdres consists of the six municipalities of Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Sl ...

Telemark Telemark is a traditional region, a former county, and a current electoral district in southern Norway. In 2020, Telemark merged with the former county of Vestfold to form the county of Vestfold og Telemark. Telemark borders the traditional ...

Vestfold Vestfold is a traditional region, a former county and a current electoral district in Eastern Norway. In 2020 the county became part of the much larger county of Vestfold og Telemark. Located on the western shore of the Oslofjord, it bordered t ...

and

Østfold Østfold is a traditional region, a former county and a current electoral district in southeastern Norway. It borders Akershus and southwestern Sweden (Västra Götaland County and Värmland), while Buskerud and Vestfold are on the other side ...

, and the province of Bohuslän, and the parishes of

Idre Idre ( sma, Eajra, Elfdalian: ''Iðer'') is a locality and ski resort situated in Älvdalen Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 794 inhabitants in 2010. It was also a historical parish and former municipality. History The two parishes ''S� ...

and

Särna Särna (Elfdalian: ''Sjär’n'') is a locality situated in Älvdalen Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 719 inhabitants in 2010. History The two parishes ''Särna'' and ''Idre'' were originally part of Norway but were occupied by an exped ...

. The Diocese of Hamar was established and separated from Oslo in 1152, but it was again merged with Oslo in 1541 (together with the northern part of Østerdalen from

Diocese of Nidaros Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Trøndelag county in Central Norway and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. Since 10 September 2017, the Bishop of Nidaros is Herbor ...

). The regions of Hallingdal and Valdres were transferred from

Diocese of Stavanger The Diocese of Stavanger ( no, Stavanger bispedømme) is a diocese in the Church of Norway. It covers all of Rogaland county in western Norway. The cathedral city is Stavanger, where the Stavanger Cathedral is located. The bishop is Anne Li ...

to Oslo in 1631. (But Oslo had to give the upper part of Telemark to Stavanger in return.) The parishes of Idre and Särna were lost to Sweden in 1644, and the province of Bohuslän was lost in 1658. Hamar (with Hedmark and Oppland) was again separated from Oslo in 1864. The rest of Telemark was transferred to ''Diocese of Kristiansand'' (see

Diocese of Agder og Telemark The Diocese of Agder og Telemark ( no, Agder og Telemark bispedømme) is a diocese of the Church of Norway, covering all of Agder county and most of Vestfold og Telemark county in Norway. The cathedral city is Kristiansand, Norway's fifth larges ...

) the same year. The

Diocese of Tunsberg Tunsberg is a diocese of the Church of Norway. It includes parishes located within the counties of Vestfold and Buskerud, with the cathedral located in Tønsberg. The Diocese of Tunsberg consists of the cathedral deanery and 9 rural deaneries. Hi ...

(with Vestfold and Buskerud) was established and separated from Oslo in 1948. The Diocese of Borg (with Akershus and Østfold) was established and separated from Oslo in 1969. Today the Diocese of Oslo only covers the county of Oslo and the municipalities of

and

in Akershus.

Bishops since the Reformation

*1541–1545

Hans Rev Hans Rev or Hans Reff (about 1489 in Denmark – July/August 1545 in Oslo) was a Danish-Norwegian clergyman. He was the last Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oslo before the Protestant Reformation, and later became the first Lutheran Sup ...

*1545–1548

Anders Madssøn Anders is a male name in Scandinavian languages and Fering North Frisian, an equivalent of the Greek Andreas ("manly") and the English Andrew. It originated from Andres via metathesis. In Sweden, Anders has been one of the most common names fo ...

*1548–1580 Frants Berg *1580–1600

Jens Nilssøn Jens Nilssøn (in Latin ''Joannis Nicolai'') (1538–1600) was a Norwegian clergyman, educator, poet and author. He served as the Bishop of Oslo from 1580 to 1600. Biography Nilssøn was born in Oslo, Norway. After the death of his father, his mo ...

*1601–1607

Anders Bendssøn Dall Anders Bendssøn Dall ( Latinized as Andreas Benedictus Dallinus) was a Danish Lutheran prelate of the Church of Norway who served as Bishop of Oslo from 1601 to 1607. He played an important role in proposing a new church ordinance for the Norweg ...

*1607–1617

Niels Claussøn Senning Niels Claussøn Senning (c. 1580 – 1617) was a Danish/Norwegian Lutheran Bishop. Senning was born in Helsingør, Denmark. He studied at the University of Copenhagen, traveled as an eighteen year old abroad and received an enrollment at the Un ...

*1617–1639

Niels Simonsen Glostrup Niels Simonsen Glostrup (died 6 January 1639 in Christiania, Norway) was a Danish priest who became the seventh Lutheran Bishop of Oslo (after 1624: Christiania). Niels Glostrup was born in a small town named Glostrup near Copenhagen, where his f ...

*1639–1646

Oluf Boesen Olaf of Denmark – Danish: ''Oluf'' - may refer to: * Olaf I of Denmark * Olaf II of Denmark no, Olav Håkonsson , house = Bjelbo , father = Haakon VI of Norway , mother = Margaret I of Denmark , birth_date = ...

*1646–1664

Henning Stockfleth Henning Stockfleth (c.1610 – 5 February 1664) was a Norwegian cleric and Bishop of Oslo. Biography Henning Eggertsen Stockfleth was born in Haderslev, Denmark. He was the son of Danish merchant Eggert Stockfleth (1565-1638). In 1629, he ...

*1664–1699

Hans Rosing Hans may refer to: __NOTOC__ People * Hans (name), a masculine given name * Hans Raj Hans, Indian singer and politician ** Navraj Hans, Indian singer, actor, entrepreneur, cricket player and performer, son of Hans Raj Hans ** Yuvraj Hans, Punjabi a ...

*1699–1712 Hans Munch *1713–1730

Bartholomæus Deichman Bartholomæus Deichman (9 August 1671 – 13 April 1731) was a Danish/Norwegian clergyman and Bishop. Deichman was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the son of Carl Deichman (ca. 1639–1684) and his wife Else Pedersdatter (d. ca. 1675). ...

*1731–1737

Peder Hersleb Peder Hersleb (25 March 1689 – 4 April 1757) was a Norwegian-Danish clergyman and Bishop. Biography Hersleb was born in Steinkjer in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, the son of Christopher Hersleb and Sophie Borch. He became a student at Trondhei ...

*1738–1758 Niels Dorph *1758–1773

Fredrik Nannestad Frederik Nannestad (21 October 1693 – 11 August 1774) was a Norwegian theologian, author, and bishop. Biography Frederik Nannestad was born at Eidsberg in Østfold, Norway. He was the son of Christopher Jenssen Nannestad (1633–1707) and h ...

*1773–1804 Christian Schmidt *1805–1822 Fredrik Julius Bech *1823–1845

Christian Sørenssen Christian Sørenssen (born 25 September 1765 in Christiansand, died 16 August 1845 in Våler) was a Norwegian theologian, politician, and Bishop of the Church of Norway. He was bishop of the Diocese of Christianssand from 1811 until 1823 wh ...

*1846–1874

Jens Lauritz Arup Jens Lauritz Arup (20 April 1793 – 9 April 1874) was a Norwegian bishop and politician. He was born at Kristiansand in Vest-Agder, Norway. His father was a sexton and a school teacher. In 1811 Arup was sent to Copenhagen to study, but ...

*1875–1893

Carl Peter Parelius Essendrop Carl Peter Parelius Essendrop (6 June 1818 – 18 October 1893) was a Norwegian Lutheran priest, educator and Bishop of Oslo. Biography Essendrop was born Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was the son of Peter Essendrop (1776-1819) and ...

*1893–1896

Fredrik Wilhelm Klumpp Bugge Frederik Wilhelm Klumpp Bugge (20 May 1838 – 7 April 1896) was a Norwegian theologian and politician for the Conservative Party. Personal life Bugge was born in Trondhjem as a son of rector Frederik Moltke Bugge (1806–1853) and Anne Ma ...

*1896–1912

Anton Christian Bang Anton Christian Bang (18 September 1840 in Dønna, Helgeland – 29 December 1913) was a Norwegian theologian, historian and politician for the Conservative Party of Norway. Bang was one of the more prominent figures within the Church of ...

*1912–1922

Jens Frølich Tandberg Jens Frølich Tandberg (May 13, 1852 – March 21, 1922) was the bishop of Oslo from 1912 to 1922. Tandberg was born in Hausvik, Norway. He was the son of Jørgen Tandberg, who served as the bishop of the Diocese of Kristiansand from 188 ...

*1922–1937

Johan Lunde Johan Peter Lunde (25 December 1866 – 12 February 1938) was a Norwegian theologian and Bishop of the Diocese of Oslo. Biography Lunde was born at Lillehammer, Norway. He was the son of Knud Truls Wiel Lunde (1827–1915) and Mariane Sophie Br ...

*1937–1951 Eivind Josef Berggrav *1951–1968

Johannes Smemo Johannes Smemo (31 July 1898–7 March 1973) was a Norwegian theologian, psalmist, and a long-time bishop in the Church of Norway. Theologically, he was a conservative, confessional Lutheran priest who lived during the time of great liberal- ...

*1968–1973

Fridtjov Søiland Birkeli Fridtjov Søiland Birkeli (26 May 1906 – 17 September 1983) was a Norwegian Lutheran missionary, writer, magazine editor, and bishop. He also served in the administration of the Lutheran World Federation. Biography Fridtjov Birkeli was born ...

*1973–1977

Kaare Støylen Kaare Støylen (3 October 1909 – 22 August 1989) was a Norwegian theologian and priest. He served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Agder from 1957-1973. Personal life Kaare Støylen was born in Aker, Norway, Aker, Norway on 3 October 1909. ...

*1977–1998

Andreas Aarflot Andreas Aarflot (born 1 July 1928) is a Norwegian theologian and bishop emeritus in the Church of Norway. He was bishop of Oslo from 1977 to 1998. Early life Aarflot was born in Yiyang, China where his mother and father served the Norwegian Mis ...

*1998–2005

Gunnar Stålsett Gunnar Johan Stålsett (born 10 February 1935, in Nordkapp) is a Norwegian theologian and politician. He was leader of the Centre Party 1977–1979, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation 1985–1993 and bishop of Oslo, in th ...

*2005–2017

Ole Christian Kvarme Ole Christian Mælen Kvarme (born November 11, 1948 in Molde) is a Norwegian bishop of the Church of Norway. He was bishop of Oslo in the Lutheran Church of Norway from 2005 and 2017. As Bishop of Oslo, Kvarme was the personal prelate of the Norw ...

*2017–present Kari Veiteberg

Deaneries

* Oslo arch-deanery * Asker deanery * Bærum deanery * Nordre Aker deanery * Søndre Aker deanery * Vestre Aker deanery * Østre Aker deanery * Nationwide deaneries: ** The deaf chaplain deanery ** The military chaplain corps

External links

Official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Diocese Of Oslo Religion in Oslo

1068 establishments in Europe 11th-century establishments in Norway

Organisations based in Oslo