The mysterious ruins of Nes Church in Norway have attracted ghost hunters and legends for centuries. But what really lurks among the senior stones after gloomy?
Where the Vorma and Glomma rivers meet at Nes, west of Norway, lie the ruins of a church said to be haunted. Some say these ruins may be the most haunted place in the country.
In daylight, the ruins of the antique church of Nes are a peaceful historical site. Stone walls softened by moss, wind blowing through cracked arches, and birds nested in the mute walls. However, when night falls, the place changes. Ghost hunters and thrill-seekers are equipped with flashlights and recording devices, hoping to capture the strange energy that locals say has lingered here for centuries.
A thousand years of history
These crumbling walls date back to the 11th century, making them some of the oldest standing church buildings in the region. Even before it became a Christian church, it was most likely a pagan place of worship.
Over the years it was expanded and demolished, and in 1567 it burned down during the Nordic Seven Years' War. In 1854, the church burned down due to a lightning strike and was not rebuilt due to fear of mudslides. The ruins are now a popular venue for weddings, religious services and concerts with grass as the floor and sky as the roof, and the graves surrounding the Gothic ruins make it a park of sorts.
There are stories of electronics failing as investigators enter the area. Phones that suddenly turn off, camera screens that flash to black, lights that flash for no reason. Visitors report the impression that someone, or perhaps several people, does not appreciate the intrusion. Ruins burdened with memories seem to breathe and watch.
A tragic priest ordered to haunt the ruins of the church in Nes
Weathered but still impressive, they mark places where generations lived, worshiped and were buried. And next to them stands a lonely grave: the resting place of Father Jacob Christian Finckenhagen, who was buried here in 1837.
Finckenhagen served here in the early 19th century from 1800 until his death, remembered in local folklore as a deeply troubled man. Some say he took his own life in church, unable to bear the weight of his despair. Others insist that even death did not bring him peace.
Many visitors claim to have seen a figure in black priestly robes walking along the path towards his tombstone. He is mute, moving with sluggish and decisive steps, as if he were still patrolling the area of his parish. Those who have seen him say that he follows from afar, never approaching, never turning away.
Children behind the walls
The darkest story associated with Nes is whispered in hushed voices. According to local legend, Finckenhagen's children were sealed in the church itself.
He married his wife Charlotte Amalia Hassing and had three children together, as well as Charlotte's daughter from his first marriage. No sources confirm this, but many swear that the land remembers that they were in fact buried in the ruins. People walking the perimeter after sunset report subdued screams echoing off the stone. Tall, distant and pleading. Some people turn back immediately. Others keep going until the darkness becomes too much.
The truth behind the haunting rumors
But how much truth is there in the statement that the ghostly priest is here to stay? Records show that Father Jacob Christian Finckenhagen actually died of a sudden stroke and was 81 years senior when it occurred. His iron cross still stands there, and at his funeral one of Norway's most renowned writers, Henrik Wergeland, wrote a poem in his honor.
What about his children? There is absolutely no mention of them being hidden within the walls of the ruins. His son, Søren, did what his father did and became a priest.
So when did stories begin to be written? Although people have talked about strange things happening near the ruins for centuries, the story of Finckenhagen has been told since at least the early 20th century. And what was said earlier about the strange ruins may have become history.
Haunted by the past
Whether the priest is a restless soul, a floating echo, or a remnant of senior fears and superstitions, the legends cannot be ignored. The ruins of Nes are more than just a historical site. They are a place where something remains, something that does not want to sleep.
But the truth is that he definitely attracted people to him. It was so bad that cameras had to be turned on as people destroyed the ruins by driving on the grass, illegally digging and spray painting the antique walls. Perhaps the greatest visitation to church ruins today comes from the living.
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Visiting the ruins of the Nes church in Norway
The mysterious ruins of Nes Church in Norway have attracted ghost hunters and legends for centuries. But what really lurks among the senior stones after gloomy?
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Reverend Jacob Christian Finckenhagen (1756-1837) – Find a grave monument
Church ruins mentioned in Forbes Magazine: – They're a little scary
The ruins of the church will be monitored with cameras: – Unfortunately, we see no other solution
Image Source: Pixabay.com
