Stave churches are named after the supporting staves in the construction of the walls. These are placed in the corners and at other important connecting points in the churches. During the Middle Ages, church construction of stave design and related methods of construction was to be found over most of North-West Europe. Aside from Hedared Church in Sweden and Greensted Church in England, however, it is only in Norway that this type of medieval church has been preserved.

 

The stave churches that have been preserved to date are by no means identical. They consist of different types: built at different times, by different types of craftsmen and at differing levels of ambition. Some of them have many columns in their interior, others far fewer. A number of them are extremely simple, with just one room and no columns. Others have been richly decorated, with carved portals and pillar ornamentation.