The Diocese of Oslo is the Church of Norway's bishopric for the municipalities of Oslo, Asker and Bærum. It is one of Norway's five traditional bishoprics and was founded around the year 1070.
History Oslo was established as a diocese in 1068. It was originally a suffragan of the archdiocese of Hamburg-Bremen, from 1104 on of that of Lund and starting from 1152 on of Nidaros. It then covered the (modern) counties of Oslo, Akershus, Buskerud (except Hallingdal), Hedmark (except the northern part of Østerdalen), Oppland (except Valdres), Telemark, Vestfold and Østfold, and the province of Bohuslän, and the parishes of Idre and Särna.
The Diocese of Hamar was established and separated from Oslo in 1152, but it was again merged with Oslo in 1541 (together with the northern part of Østerdalen from Diocese of Nidaros). The regions of Hallingdal and Valdres were transferred from Diocese of Stavanger to Oslo in 1631. (But Oslo had to give the upper part of Telemark to Stavanger in return.) The parishes of Idre and Särna were lost to Sweden in 1644, and the province of Bohuslän was lost in 1658. Hamar (with Hedmark and Oppland) was again separated from Oslo in 1864. The rest of Telemark was transferred to Diocese of Kristiansand (see Diocese of Agder og Telemark) the same year. The Diocese of Tunsberg (with Vestfold and Buskerud) was established and separated from Oslo in 1948. The Diocese of Borg (with Akershus and Østfold) was established and separated from Oslo in 1969.
Today the Diocese of Oslo only covers the county of Oslo and the municipalities of Asker and Bærum in Akershus.
Bishops Medieval – , missionary bishop Torolv Aslak Geisard 1122–1133 Kol Torkelson Peter ? – 1157 William 1157/61–1170 Torsteinn 1170–1190 Helge I 1190–1225 Nikolas Arnesson 1226–1244 Orm 1247–1248 Torkell 1248–1267 Håkon 1267–1287 1288–1303 Eyvind 1304–1322 Helge II 1322–1351 1352–1354 Gyrd Aslason 1352–1358 1359–1370 Hallvard Bjørnarsson 1373–1385 Jon 1386–1407 1407 Aslak Bolt 1408–1420 Jakob Knutson 1420–1452 Jens Jakobssøn 1453–1483 1483–1488 Nils Audensson Kalib 1489–1505 Herlog Vigleiksson Korning 1506–1521 Anders Mus 1521–1524 1524 Anders Mus 1525-1537 Hans Rev
Since the Reformation 1541–1545 Hans Rev 1545–1548 Anders Madssøn 1548–1580 Frants Berg 1580–1600 Jens Nilssøn 1601–1607 Anders Bendssøn Dall 1607–1617 Niels Claussøn Senning 1617–1639 Niels Simonsen Glostrup 1639–1646 Oluf Boesen 1646–1664 Henning Stockfleth 1664–1699 Hans Rosing 1699–1712 Hans Munch 1713–1730 Bartholomæus Deichman 1731–1737 Peder Hersleb 1738–1758 Niels Dorph 1758–1773 Fredrik Nannestad 1773–1804 Christian Schmidt 1805–1822 Fredrik Julius Bech 1823–1845 Christian Sørenssen 1846–1874 Jens Lauritz Arup 1875–1893 Carl Peter Parelius Essendrop 1893–1896 Fredrik Wilhelm Klumpp Bugge 1896–1912 Anton Christian Bang 1912–1922 Jens Frølich Tandberg 1922–1937 Johan Lunde 1937–1951 Eivind Josef Berggrav 1951–1968 Johannes Smemo 1968–1973 Fridtjov Søiland Birkeli 1973–1977 Kaare Støylen 1977–1998 Andreas Aarflot 1998–2005 Gunnar Stålsett 2005–2017 Ole Christian Kvarme 2017–2025 Kari Veiteberg 2025–present Sunniva Gylver
Deaneries Oslo arch-deanery Asker deanery Bærum deanery Nordre Aker deanery Søndre Aker deanery Vestre Aker deanery Østre Aker deanery Nationwide deaneries: The deaf chaplain deanery The military chaplain corps
External links Official website