The cathedral’s early years
The Cathedral made Stavanger a city.
The initiative came from bishop Reinald and the king.
St. Swithun became the guardian saint of the city. A bone from his arm was placed in the church as a relic.
Bishop Reinald arrived with several other priests, who were called «Kanniks» A part of the city still carries this name.
Stavanger became the center of the church in Rogaland, Agder, Setesdal, Valdres and Hallingdal, a much larger area than today. Several stone churches were built in this period, amongst others in Sørbø and Talgje on the islands outside Stavanger.
There had been Christians in Rogaland for several hundred years when the cathedral was built. Travels, meetings with other cultures and migration contributed to this. People were christianised both from below and through the king’s authority. They looked for a religion which could give them prosperity, protection and hope.