Grafarkirkja Turf-Church, Northern Iceland 1 Stock Photo

Grafarkirkja turf church - the Chapel at Gröf in Höfðaströnd in North-Iceland - is Iceland`s oldest turf church. Parts of the current turf church date back to the 17th century. There is a weather-vane on top of the church with the letters 167_ with the last symbol missing. Grafarkirkja turf church is the only church in Iceland with a circular turf-wall around the graveyard and the church, but such a circular form is an ancient form in Iceland. A circular graveyard like this one, a little bit bigger though, can also be seen at Geirsstaðakirkja turf church in East-Iceland, but that church is a remake of an ancient turf church. Probably most churches in Iceland were similar to Grafarkirkja turf church in olden times. It must have been such a lovely sight, seeing all these little turf churches all around Iceland!