Sannidal
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Sannidal used to be it own local municipality in Telemark county. It was founded in 1837 and called Sandøkedal.
On 1 January 1882 Sannidal was separated from Skåtøy and both become their own municipalities. After the separation Sannidal had 2 186 inhabitants.
1 January 1960 Sannidal joined Skåtøy and Kragerø to become the enlarged Kragerø municipality. Sannidal then had 2 604 inhabitants.
Sannidal is at the end of the Kil fjord going fare into to country. For this reason it was one of the earliest settlements in the area, being an important link between the sea and the land. During the timer export as well as the ice export era Kil, the centre of Sannidal was an important export harbour.
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[edit] Sannidal Church
Sannidal Church is a log built church shaped in the form of a cross, dating back to 1771. It lies next to the old main road going south from Oslo to Kristiansand. Outside the church there is a big churchyard with two tall monuments to commemorate the men lost at war. The one to the south of the church is a reminder of the Napoleonic Wars 1807-1814 when Norway was under Denmark and fighting on Napoleon’s side against the British fleet. The monument outside the church entrance was erected after the last war. Every 8th. May on Norwegian Armistice Day and on 17th. May, Constitution Day, wreaths are laid in honour of the men who gave their life for the King and country. The present church came into use during the autumn of 1772. At that time Sannidal was under Krageroe. Sannidal did not have it’s own vicar neither did it have it’s own parish clerk. The building of the church can be credited to Jacob Matssøn Lund appointed vicar of Kragerø and Sannidal in 1766, he was an able man who in addition to studying theology also had learnt medicine and anatomy. He was the first to vaccinate against small pox and also instrumental in organising the general education in our village in 1777.
[edit] The stave church.
Prior to the present church there was a stave church dating back to 1200, which was located on the small hill to the south of the present church. The reason for building the new one was that the stave church was dilapidated, a cold and drafty place during the winter period. The stave church was dedicated to St. Laurentius, the Roman deacon burnt on the fire during the prosecution of Christians in 258 under the emperor Valerian. Remains of the old stave church can be seen in the present church and old planks are used in the floor and roof. Some remains are also stored at Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo where the pulpit and altarpiece are displayed. Stave churches date back a long time in Norway, they came with the Christening of Norway and a total of more than 750 were once in use, today we have 31 left. The location for the church is also historical in that in pre-Christian times that are before the years 1000-1100 in Norway the place was used as a site for worshiping the old Norse gods. There was most probably a “gudehov”(pagan temple) located here. Bishop Eystein’s red book. The first time the church is mentioned is in Bishop Eystein’s ” red book” from 1398. Here it is referred to as «Moo kirkia j Sandhauka dale». Eystein Aslaksson was bishop in Oslo from 1385, and he was given the job of getting the poor economy of his bishopric in shape. During his yearly visitation he collected material describing the church’s earthly goods. The name red book stems from the red cover it was given during the 1500s. The stave church was located in the grounds of Moo farm, hence the name. Today we use only one o, but still refer to the area as Mo, with the original farm half way up the hill to the north of the church. Farms with single syllabus names are usually the oldest one in the area and in this case refer to being a farm located on a sand and gravel rich moraine.
[edit] Church vestibule.
The Church vestibule was restored for the 200 years Jubilee in 1972 by recommendation from the Chief Inspector of Historic Buildings. It houses a grave plate cast at Mørland foundry in Kjølebrønd in olden times a very busy place south along the Kil fjord. The foundry was operational 1641-1665 and the grave plate is from 1643 with the name Anna Krefting on it, probably the wife of Herman Krefting, who operated the foundry in its first years. The old entrance door displayed on the south wall is from the old stave church as are the wooden entrance pillars on both sides of the door to the church nave. A small sword used to protect oneself on the way to church is also displayed on the south wall, wild animals and robbers were a common occurrence in Norway. In fact so common that the Norwegian name for the vestibule is “våpenhuset”, the place to store weapons. Weapons are not to be worn in the room where Christ our saviour is worshiped. When you visit us on a Sunday you might see some people wear a sheathed knife in their belt. Do not be mistaken, in Sannidal this is not a weapon it is a most important tool for the “Sannidøl”, the home of many a famous knife smith and maker. A portrait gallery of our vicars is also to be seen on the south wall. The longest reigning vicar, Torkell A. Tande, was also a member of parliament for many years.
[edit] Nave.
The pulpit was donated by Knut Knutsen Dobbe and made in the beginning of 1800’s in a late Louis 16th. style modelled on antique ideas. It is carved by Peder Olsen, a foundry model maker engaged by Bolvig, Froland and Egelands foundry. The old soapstone Christening font dates back to 1200, it retains the Christening tradition in Sannidal for more than eight centuries. Next to the pulpit and the readers chair there are couple of two-armed candlestick holders going back to the 1400’s in Gothic style. The importance of the timber and later ice export on sailing ships for the area can be seen in the warrior sailing ship with cannons ready to fight for Christ.
[edit] Alter.
The alter silver and Eucharist vessels also date back to the stave church and were given as gifts in the beginning of the 1700s. The storage case for the Eucharist bread was a gift from the skipper and the owner of the skip «Patriarchen Jacob» in thanks to God for intervening and saving the ship off the coast of Holland in 1703. A wine mug in silver was given in 1708 by skipper Olle Nielsøn and both his sons Niels og Jon Olesøn together with seven others. The intention was “to honour God and for beautifying of the alter in Sannidal church”, according to the Norwegian engraved on it. The alter piece showing the crucifixion of Christ comes from the old ”Christi kirke” in Kragerø dismantled in 1870. The piece is from the 1600’s. On the alter lays a Frederik 2nd. edition bible, printed in Copenhagen in 1589. Nils Jen¬sen Farsjø donated it. The eye on the top of the alter piece is decorated with painted cherub’s and radiating light, it probably also comes from the old ”Christi kirke”.
[edit] An ideal place for the Sannidal community.
Near to the church we have “Kirkestua” an old school-building today used by the vicar and church clerk as well as a meeting place for small groups. It is also used for confirmation classes even though it then becomes rather crammed. Traditionally the large majority of Norwegian youth get confirmed while they attend the 9th. School year. Confirmation is one of the main family gatherings and is a big feast day on the church calendar at the beginning of May. The white house on the northern side of the road is the mission chapel run by Mo Evangelic Lutheran home mission. It is used for Christian meetings as well as a place for a family gathering after important church functions such as confirmations, weddings, christenings and burials. Approximately 500 m to the west, Bygdetunet is located. This is a living museum exhibiting old houses from the area. This site is also used for important village gatherings as the 17th. May celebration.
