New Veldre Church
Nye Veldre Kirke fra vest
THE NEW VELDRE CHURCH
This information brochure was produced by Veldre's congregation committee in connection with the planning and building committee in the Fall of 1998. The new church will not only be the pride of Veldre, but of the whole of Ringsaker municipality when it stands completed and ready tobe opened in the beginning of the year 2000. The church has been designed by Ulf Zettersten from Sweden, and Roar Jacobsen from Gjøvik,Norway. The new Veldre church will be made of white wood panneling, just as the old one was. It will have a tower and a spire and, like the old church, it will rise 84 ft. above the ground. The location is perfect, near the graveyard and close to the main road in a rich cultural landscape with a fantastic view of Lake Mjøsa and its intimate yet majestic surroundings. The church in Veldre will once again become the area's landmark ! The interior and shaping of the new church will create the right atmosphere for formal occasions, church services and other church events. The new Veldre church will be a church where children, youth, adults, and seniors will feel at home. BR>
A SHORT PRESENTATION.
Church law and the new plannning and building code demands that the new church must be equipped with a ventilation system, cloakrooms, toilets and offices - all in accordance to the laws that provide for the physically challenged. This is one of the reasons that the new church will be larger than the old one. In planning the new church much work has been done to the costs down. The new church in Veldre will be a solid, modern church facility. The Narthex and ante-rooms have been designed in accordance with leading motifs based in Christendom. In keeping with the wishes of the congregation, great emphasis has been placed on fine acoustics, so that it will be suitable for church concerts and other musical arrangements. The total area for the church will be 780m2, and it will cost 23 million Norwegian crowns in total to build. The church will have seating for 275 people.

PLACING OF THE NEW CHURCH
Veldre church burnt down to the ground on September the 28th 1996. September the 29th 1996 would have been the 270th anniversary of the building of the church. The tragedy of its loss was felt not only because of its importance to the community, but in addition Veldre church was a cultural icon. The planning and building committee for the reconstruction of the church started in early 1997. Their first important task was to find a suitable site for the new church, as it soon became apparent that the church could not be built on the former site. Both the law of the church and the planning and building code required that the new church be built with a larger ground surface area. In addition there were several old graves that were too close to the base structure of the old church to permit development of the burned-out site. The only possible alternative site within the church grounds was unsuitable. Proximity to the cemetery, access to the main road, and the site's position were the deciding factors in the choice of location. The result was that two families and all their belongings had to be re-located as their houses were torn down. This was achieved due to the close co-operation with the owners.
HOW TO CONTACT US
For more information concerning the building or otherwise of the new church please address your enquiries to the following:


E-mail: ian.mckelvey@c2i.net
(Berit Kristin Klevmoen)

HELP US
The fire insurance from the old church will not cover the total cost of building and decorating the new church. This was the reason for the application for money to the local authorities to help cover the costs of re-building Veldre. The application however, was rejected and the planning and building committee still requires 1.5 million Norwegian crowns (approx. 200,000.00 USD ) to get a new church organ, and for interior decorating. There is therefore a need, both in the form of volunteer work and in monetary gifts. It is the expressed hope that the people not only of Veldre, but also of other communities may endeavour to help us in our time of need.