The youngest church in Kópavogur is Lindakirkja, designed by ASK Architects. The church was consecrated in 2008.

The Churches in Kópavogur

Pentecost weekend is approaching, one of the major religious holidays for Christians. In Kópavogur, the second-largest municipality in Iceland with nearly 40,000 inhabitants, there are three churches: Kópavogskirkja, Digraneskirkja, and Lindakirkja. Kópavogur is a young municipality that split from Seltjarnarnes in 1948 and gained town rights in 1955. Initially, Kópavogur was primarily a residential area, conveniently located just south of Reykjavík in the center of the capital region. Now, it also boasts strong commercial and service industries, including the largest shopping mall in the country, Smáralind, the tallest building, Turninn next to Smáralind, and BYKO, the largest hardware store in Breidd.

The first written records of settlements in the Kópavogur area date back to 1234, referencing a residence at Vatnsendi near Ellidavatn. The name Kópavogur first appeared in records in 1523. Kópavogur has a sister city relationship with eight towns: Norrköping in Sweden, Tampere in Finland, Odense in Denmark, and Trondheim in Norway. Additionally, Angmassalik in Greenland, Mariehamn in the Åland Islands, and Klaksvík in the Faroe Islands. The only sister city outside the Nordic countries is Wuhan in China, now best known as the place where COVID-19 first emerged in the world two and a half years ago.

At the top of Borgarholt is Kópavogskirkja, built between 1958 and 1962 according to the designs of Hörður Bjarnason and Ragnar Emilsson. The church is one of the main symbols of the town, as the emblem of Kópavogur features the outline of the church.

 

Digraneskirkja in Kópavogsdalur was consecrated in 1994, and the building was designed by Benjamín Magnússon.
On Hádegishólar, a few steps west of Lindakirkja, is this Buddha stupa. Although Icelandic society is primarily Christian, around 2% of the population adheres to other religions. The stupa was erected by the Buddhist Society of Iceland and is used by them during special occasions. Kópavogur spreads out in the background, with Kópavogskirkja peeking above the horizon to the left of the stupa. Digraneskirkja is hidden, behind Turninn, the tallest building in the country.

Kópavogur 04/06/2022  09:27 – 10:19 : A7C, RX1R II : FE 2.8/100mm GM, 2.0/35mm Z
Photos og text : Páll Stefánsson