The Diocese of Stavanger () 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 Lise Ådnøy, who has held the post since 2019.
History The ancient Diocese of Stavanger was established in the 12th century (either 1112 or maybe 1125) when it was separated from the Ancient Diocese of Bergen. Initially, the large diocese covered the (modern) counties of Rogaland and Agder as well as the regions of Valdres (in Innlandet county), Hallingdal (in Buskerud county), and the parishes of Eidfjord and Røldal (in Vestland county). After the Protestant Reformation, the Diocese of Stavanger continued in the new Church of Norway.
Over time, the diocese was reduced in size. The parish of Eidfjord was transferred to the neighboring Diocese of Bjørgvin in 1630. The regions of Valdres and Hallingdal were transferred to the Diocese of Oslo in 1631, but in exchange, the Diocese of Oslo had to give the upper part of Telemark and transfer that to the Diocese of Stavanger.
In 1682 Christian V, King of Denmark-Norway issued an order that the Bishop and the Prefect of the Diocese of Stavanger were to be moved to the Christianssand Cathedral, which had been consecrated in 1646 and which the King intended to be the perfect site for a new cathedral. The citizens of Stavanger protested, with the Prefect and the Bishop refusing to move and ignoring the order. It took two years before Christianssand was established as the new cathedral city. The diocese was renamed Diocese of Christianssand ().
On 1 January 1925, the Diocese of Kristiansand was divided and all of the diocese located in Rogaland county was moved to the newly re-established Diocese of Stavanger and the cathedral in Stavanger regained its place as the seat of a bishop.
Bishops of Stavanger
Catholic (12th century-Reformation)
Reinald ca. 1112–1135 Jon Birgersson, 1135–1152 Peter, 1152–?? Amund, ??–1171 Eirik Ivarsson, 1171–1188 Njål, 1189/90–1207 Henrik, 1207–1224 Askell Jonsson, 1226–1254 Torgils, 1255–1276 Arne, 1277–1303 Ketil, 1304–1317 Håkon Halldorsson, 1318–1322 Eirik Ogmundsson, 1322–1342 Guttorm Pålsson, 1343–1350 Sigfrid, 1351–1352 Gyrd Aslason, 1354–1355 Bottolf Asbjørnsson, 1355–1380 Hallgeirr Osmundsson, 1380/81 Olaf, 1381/82–1398/1400 Håkon Ivarsson, 1400–1426 Audun Eyvindsson, 1427–1445 Gunnar Eriksson, 1445–1451/53 Sigurd Bjørnsson, 1454–1463 Alv Thorgardsson, 1464–1478 Eiliv Jonsson, 1481–1512 Hoskuld Hoskuldsson, 1513–1537
Lutheran (Reformation–1682)
Jon Guttormsen, 1541–1557 Jens Gregersen Riber, 1558–1571 Jørgen Eriksen, 1571–1604 Laurits Clausen Scabo, 1605–1626 Tomas Cortsen Wegner, 1627–1654 Markus Christensen Humble, 1655–1661 Christen Madsen Tausan, 1661–1680 In 1682 the diocese seat was moved from Stavanger to Christianssand
Lutheran (1925–present)
The large Diocese of Kristiansand was divided with all of Rogaland county becoming the newly re-established Diocese of Stavanger Jacob Christian Petersen, 1925–1940 Gabriel Skagestad, 1940–1949 Karl Martinussen, 1949–1960 Fritjov Søiland Birkeli, 1960–1968 Olav Hagesæther, 1968–1976 Sigurd Lunde, 1977–1986 Bjørn Bue, 1986–1997 Ernst Oddvar Baasland, 1998–2009 Erling Johan Pettersen, 2009–2016 Ivar Braut, 2017–2019 Anne Lise Ådnøy since 2019
Structure The Diocese of Stavanger is divided into nine deaneries () spread out over Rogaland county. Each deanery corresponds a geographical area, usually one or more municipalities in the diocese. Each municipality is further divided into one or more parishes which each contain one or more congregations. See each municipality below for lists of churches and parishes within them.
Deanery (Prosti) MunicipalitiesStavanger domprostiStavangerDalane prostiBjerkreim, Eigersund, Lund, SokndalHaugaland prostiBokn, Haugesund, Tysvær, Utsira, VindafjordJæren prostiGjesdal, Hå, Klepp, TimeKarmøy prostiKarmøyRyfylke prostiSauda, Suldal, Hjelmeland, StrandSandnes prostiSandnesTungenes prostiKvitsøy, Randaberg, Sola, StavangerYtre Stavanger prostiStavanger
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