Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments purchased the building in 1880. All of the "new" additions were torn down, leaving just the medieval building still standing. Using the Borgund Stave Church as a model, architect Peter Andreas Blix reconstructed the church between 1884 and 1891. During the reconstruction, carved sections were found beneath the floor which indicated that the new church replaced an older church, which was probably built in the latter half of the 11th century. During the reconstruction, the nave and choir were left alone and the apse, corridors, and roof were all rebuilt. All of the newly rebuilt areas were based on similar existing stave churches such as the Borgund Stave Church and the Urnes Stave Church. Since its completion in 1891, the church has been used primarily as a museum, although the parish will still use the church for special occasions. Present building The church is a triple-nave stave church of what is known as the Borgund-type. It has three portals, and the western portal is an excellent example of Middle Age wood carving. The motifs are of a romance character, often associated with European influence. The nave is a raised central room with an aisle around it, and the choir is apsidal and narrower than the nave. The church contains an altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and 14th-century ciborium with a baldachin on the north side. The ciborium has four sculptured heads, that of Christ with a halo, a queen, a king, and a monk. The roof of the baldachin bears a painting of the birth of Christ. Media gallery See also List of churches in Bjørgvin References External links Hopperstad stave church at stavkirke.info Hopperstad stave church at Fortidsminneforeningen Fortidsminneforeninga's stave church pages Vik Churches in Vestland Stave churches in Norway Long churches in Norway Wooden churches in Norway Culture in Sogn og Fjordane 12th-century churches in Norway Churches completed in 1130 11th-century establishments in Norway Buildings and structures owned by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments Norwegian election church