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The Norsemen who settled in Iceland from the end of the ninth century were pagans; and it was one of the functions of their chieftains, called goði, to conduct religious services. But, as the Icelanders made frequent journeys, and often to distant lands, they were soon brought into contact with Christian populations, and thus prepared in some sense for religious change.
The first native Christian missionary was one Stefnir Þorgilsson (996), commissioned by King Olaf Trygvesson. The somewhat abrupt methods which characterized his religious zeal brought him at first but a small following, but about the year 1000, Gissur and Hjalti, two Icelanders exiled from the country returned from Norway Christians, and soon obtained a decree from the Althing whereby pagan practices were suppressed, and the people compelled to accept baptism. A real conversion of the nation was only achieved after long and laborious efforts and the careful instruction of the people. The names of the missionaries and of their bishops are only known in part and there is no sure information concerning their work.
50 years later (in 1056) the country was given a bishop of its own, suffragan to the Archbishop of Hamburg, with his see at Skálholt, while in 1106 a bishopric was erected at Hólar. These two dioceses were first under the Archbishop of Lund, later (1152) under that of Trondheim, and until the middle of the 16th century were in close communion with Rome.
The bishops were selected by the Alþingi, but the nominees were consecrated by the metropolitan. Many of their prelates were distinguished for their virtue and wisdom. The priests of Iceland frequently went to French and English universities for studies. Many among the clergy and laity made pilgrimages to shrines of both East and West. Canon law was in force by the year 1053. Under the influence of the Church the old laws (Gragas) were written down in 1117, but civil strife led to recognition of Norwegian hegemony.
After Christianization there sprang up a number of monasteries, such as the Benedictine abbeys of Thingeirar, Munkaþverá, Kirkjubaer, and the Canon Regular convents of Thykkviboer, Flatey, Vioey, Moeoruvellir, and Skrioa. These religious houses were centres of learning and literature and were not foreign to Icelandic culture. The works of literature were of both a historical and a religious character, including poetry. Attempts were made as early as the middle of the 13th century to translate the Bible into the vernacular. There was a numerous secular clergy, with some 300 were distributed among 220 churches and artistic levels of church decoration and religious artisanship was high. This positive situation began to decline when Iceland was affected in the beginning of the fifteenth century by internal unrest, factional conflicts, earthquakes, and epidemics which struck men and beasts alike. About this period, also, religious life left much to be desired. Certain bishops like Árni Ólafsson (1413–30) and Jón Gereksson (1430–33), of Skálholt, neglected their flocks or made themselves odious by their acts of tyranny.
Upon the death of Haakon VI of Norway in 1380, his son Olaf, who since 1376 had ruled Denmark, ascended the Norwegian throne and thus effected a centuries-long union of Denmark and Iceland, which later facilitated the spread of Lutheranism during the Reformation. The Althing (Icelandic parliament) was not finally suppressed until 1800.
The following most recent heads of the Catholic Church in Iceland were bishops:
Vicars Apostolic of Iceland
Bishops of Reykjavík
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. See also