The Tromsø Cathedral is a large wooden church in the Late Gothic style, located in the middle of the Tromsø town centre. It is situated with the steeple and the main entrance facing towards the west and the street Storgata, while the choir faces towards the east and the Tromsø Sound. The church is located in the middle of the park Kirkeparken, which was a graveyard in the Middle Ages up until the first half of the 19th century. In 1250, the first church on Tromsø Island was constructed as commanded by the king. Ever since then, it is most likely that a church has stood in this area.

The Tromsø Cathedral is a long church that was constructed from timber using the cogging joint method. Weatherboarding and fine detailing in the style of the period, adorn the interior and the exterior. The church was designed by Christian Heinrich Grosch (1801-1865). He designed numerous churches in Norway during the mid-19th century. The extensions on the long sides contain the hallway and the stairway to the galleries. The steeple graduates upwards in multiple joints, from the porch to the spire, with a dated weathervane at the apex. A combination of design and colour emphasizes the constructive joints. The roofs are clad with slate.

1861

Christian Heinrich Grosch

Village hall

church

Woodwork

timber

cogging joint method

church

woodwork

timber: log construction

new-gothic

Eldal, Jens Christian and Jiri Havran, Kirker i Norge. Med historiske forbilder, 1800-tallet, Oslo 2002

Hage, Ingebjørg, "Grosch-kirker i Nord-Norge- lokale ønsker og sentral styring," in Årbok for Foreningen til norske Fortidsminnesmerkers Bevaring 2001, pp. 25-40

Hegstad, Sveinulf (ed.), Fotefar mot nord, Byvandringer, Tromsø, Tromsø (year unknown)