Hvaler church is probably one of the oldest in Norway. According carbon dating methods on wood samples analyzed in 1960 it was originally built between 920 and 1080 AD. The current church nave dates mainly from the 12-13th centuries. Archeologists carried out extensive excavations during the restoration from 1953 to 1956. They discoverede there was a fireplace under the foundations dating from the age between 120 BC and 80 AD. There may have been a prehistoric pagan site of worship on the church site. Archeologists also found 804 coins under the choir floor. While many originate from Norway, some are from Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. Most of the coins date from the Middle Ages, the oldest is from 1130.
Hvaler church was privately owned from 1724 and became as a municipal property in 1860. The Renaissance style pulpit is from 1620. During its renovation in 1734, Andreas Schavenius, who later owned the church from 1759 to 1778, gave and mounted the canopy and Rococo ornaments. The limestone baptismal font dates from 1250-1300.
The Rococo style altar is from about 1750 and given by Andreas Schavenius. Featured on the altarpiece from 1759 is Eggert Munch's oil painting of the crucifixion. On the altar are two large brass candlesticks probably originating from Holland about 1600.
References:Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.
The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.
Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.