CHURCHES OF THE FAROE ISLANDS
‘Church’ in Faroese is:
‘Kirkja’
phonetically spelled (kir-kja)
Arrive on any island in the Faroe Islands and you will undoubtedly see a church. Arrive by sea, and the church will likely be your first sight. This is simply because churches in the Faroes were usually constructed and placed strategically so that sailors and sea drifters could see them from the water. This serves as an example of how the church has long been the uniting local cultural center of the villages. This still holds true today.
Today more than 80% of Faroese are members of the national church. The rest, for the most part, members of other Christian congregations and independent churches.
With 62 churches scattered around 16 out of the 18 islands, each carrying a name with enormous importance to its location and history, each church has its own unique story. This is why we have produced a leaflet describing 11 out of the 62 churches. This leaflet is an entryway to the stories of eleven remarkable churches that all have regular opening hours (see more below on how you can be respectful when visiting).
Read or download our latest brochure, Churches of the Faroe Islands, here (also available in Faroese here).

BEFORE VISITING THE CHURCHES
Churches house our most joyous and sorrowful occasions. Be mindful and respect all private arrangements when visiting. We advise you don't attend private arrangements unless invited. You are welcome to join a regular service uninvited:
- Always keep your voice down
- Avoid using flash photography
- never eat or drink inside a church
- always be seated for an entire service
- be fairly well dressed
- After your visit, you can donate a minimum of DKK 20 for the upkeep and maintenance of the churches, as churches are run by voluntary individuals
- Sit back, listen & enjoy!
The Sunday services last approximately an hour and are usually held at 11.00 or noon. Find more detailed information at the regional tourist information.







