Vålerenga Kirke, Oslo

Situated in Oslo, the Vålerenga Church (Vålerenga kirke) graces the heart of Vålerenga Park within the Vålerenga neighborhood. This ecclesiastical gem is affiliated with the Vålerenga parish of the Oslo arch-deanery, nestled within the Diocese of Oslo under the auspices of the Church of Norway.

Constructed during the latter part of the 19th century and solemnized in 1902, the church was the brainchild of architects Heinrich Jürgensen and Holger Sinding-Larsen. Characterized by the Neo-Gothic and National Romantic architectural styles, reminiscent of the prevailing trend in Norwegian church construction during that era, the Vålerenga Church boasts a unique architectural hallmark – an off-center church tower, among Norway's pioneering examples of its kind.

A tragic incident marred the church's history in 1979, when a fire ravaged the edifice during construction endeavors, leaving the structure in near-complete ruin. Solely the resilient stone outer walls endured the devastation. Notably, cherished frescoes and stained glass creations by Emanuel Vigeland succumbed to the flames. In the wake of this catastrophe, an ambitious reconstruction ensued, culminating in the church's re-dedication in 1984. The revival included the addition of new artistic marvels, brought to life by the adept hands of artist Håkon Bleken, complemented by a fresco conceived by the visionary Emanuel Vigeland.