Northern Lights Cathedral

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The Northern Lights Cathedral, also known as Alta Church (Nordlyskatedralen – Alta Kirke), is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Alta, Finnmark, Norway. It sits in the town center and serves as the main church for the Alta parish and the seat of the Alta deanery in the Nord-Hålogaland diocese.

The church was built from 2009 to 2013 and was consecrated on 10 February 2013. It was designed as a circular building by LINK arkitektur, in collaboration with Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. The church seats about 350 people and is made of concrete and wood with titanium external cladding. A large spiral with a bell tower is a central feature, and the interior includes artworks by Peter Brandes.

Northern Lights Cathedral was created to replace the old Alta Church as the parish’s main church and deanery church. The name refers to the Aurora Borealis often seen in the Arctic nights. At the opening, the bishop explained that “katedrale” is usually used for a cathedral, but the church’s role and precedents like Lofotkatedralen and Ishavskatedralen supported the name.