In Framfjord one finds an old prayer house that does not seem to be of much use. But in the Cultural History Lexicon I found an article about this house of prayer.
The article was written in 2005 and then the Bedehuset was obviously used occasionally. I am posting here a copy of that article together with a picture of the prayer house:
The House of Prayer 2005
The frame house in the Framfjord is close to the road, a short distance west of the bridge over Dalselvi. The house has entrance, hall with semi-open ceiling and kitchen. The basement floor has a large room, which is not currently in use, and a toilet.
Furnishings and decorations
The lectern stands at the opposite wall from the front door. The hall is otherwise equipped with loose chairs and electronic organ. On the organ is the Melody Book, the Songbook and a copy of the History of the Indemnification Company. In a box are older and well-used songbooks for Sunday school, including Song book for Sunday school and reconstruction meeting by Bernt Støylen.
The wall behind the pulpit is adorned with a framed Bible word and a copy of the motif "Jesus in prayer facing the light". The wall above the front door is also adorned with a framed Bible word. It says, "Glory be to God in the highest." The body in the west is fitted with a kitchen. In a room from the hall stands the first organ. The kitchen is equipped with bidet for serving up to 70-80 people. On cups, jugs and other dishes, write "Bedehuset Framfjord" (on several "Valsvik Bedehus").
Not only in church
The Framfjord Bedehus was built at one time layman's pipe was strong. All around the turn of the century, 1900, the Word of God was proclaimed other cities than in the church. The parish priest held Bible readings and lay people happily met. Lasse Lee (1888-1986) thought in 1980 that there was a greater revival "for 70-80 years ago", and that people did not hesitate to go far to the meeting. They came together in the school house in Framfjord. And the house was full of people. There were also small meetings in private houses.
Marriage in May 1921
It took just over a year to build the house of prayer. In February 1920, people gathered with Ola A. Valsvik to choose a building committee. Markus S. Hauglum was elected President. He had previously given a low-cost plot free of charge. The same month they started the groundwork, and everything was done well. In April of the following year, the house was finished and Christ's Ascension Day, May 5, the house was inaugurated by missionary priest Arnetvedt.R The accounts for the first year show that NOK 5350 was received in gifts and that total material expenditure came to NOK 9391. My work was done on a daily basis.
Objectives Paragraph
Paragraph 2 of the "Act for Framfjord Bedehus" set the object and what the house was to use. "The house is used only for such activities as can promote true Christianity and for the good of the people. «Preferably, meetings of meetings and everything else that is part of the inner mission. any purpose which directly or indirectly serves to awaken, strengthen and fortify Christian life among the people in accordance with the Word of God, as envisaged by the Lutheran Church.» The object paragraph emphasizes by the word "only" that the house should only be used for activities that could promote "true Christianity" and be for "the true benefit of the people". And "true Christianity" was for those who adopted the first object of Framfjord House of Prayer, the Lutheran Church's Christianity, and Christian organizations with the same basic vision.
Outside of this delineation, Pentecostal friends are judged with their divergent baptismal views.
Lasse Lee chairman for 25 years
They elected 7 members to the first board: Ole J. Hauglum, Markus S. Hauglum, Steffen J. Dale, Kristian T. Lee, Knut M. Dale, Ole K. Valsvik and Lasse Lee.
Lasse Lee was elected chairman, and he was chairman for 25 years. Throughout this period, activity was high. The meeting book shows that there were 698 meetings and collections.
Sivert Dale was chairman in the years 1947-1963. Edvard Bungum took over after Dale.
New marriage in 1974
It was not until the 1970s that the prayer house was expanded, restored and refurbished. It was a new wedding celebration on Sunday, September 8, 1974.
Decreasing activity
The meeting book for 2004 tells about the activity in the prayer house 73 years after it was completed. The house was in use five times, two times for open collections: one meeting ship by the parish council and one bazaar, and the other three times for private gatherings after baptism, confirmation and burial.
Kjellaug Vikøren, born 1930, stated in July 2005 that the prayer house is very little used. The population of the fjord has decreased. The traveling emissaries are finally there, and the indemnity association has declined after a quarter as the old ones have dropped out and younger ones have not come.
