Landakotskirkja
The Basilica of Christ the King,
commonly known as
Landakotskirkja or
Christ the King Cathedral,
is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in Iceland
and the seat of its bishop.
The church is located in
Reykjavík,
in the
Vesturbær
district at
Landakot.
The first Catholic priests to arrive in Iceland after the Reformation
were the French missionaries
Bernard Bernard
and
Jean-Baptiste Baudoin.
They purchased the Landakot property
and initially lived in a traditional farmhouse.
In 1864 they built a small chapel on the site,
marking the official return of Catholicism to Iceland.
A few years later, a small wooden church was constructed near
Túngata,
close to the rectory at Landakot.
This church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and served the growing congregation.
Following the First World War,
the Catholic community in Iceland expanded significantly,
leading to plans for a larger church.
The decision was made to construct a new building
in the Neo-Gothic style,
and the renowned Icelandic architect
Guðjón Samúelsson
was commissioned to design it.
The church was consecrated on
23 July 1929
and was at that time the largest church in Iceland.
With its twin towers, stained-glass windows
and soaring interior,
Landakotskirkja remains one of Reykjavík’s
most important architectural and historical landmarks.
Landakotskirkja er áberandi í Reykjavík.