Gustav Adolph Lammers (26 May 1802 – 2 May 1878) was a Norwegian priest,architect, artist andmember of parliament.[1] He founded the country's firstdissenter congregation, the first church to officially break away from theChurch of Norway.
Lammers was born inCopenhagen, Denmark. He was the son of Ernst Anton Henrik Lammers (1770–1847) and Seriane Magdalena Hagen (1773–1843). His father was aGeneralmajor. From 1818, he was a student ofHans Linstow at theState Craft and Art Industry School (Statens håndverks- og kunstindustriskole) inChristiania (now Oslo), Norway, which he combined with studies in theology. He took hisexamen artium in 1821 and earned hiscand. theol. at theUniversity of Christiania in 1825.[2]
He was a priest at theHospital Church inTrondheim from 1827 to 1835, during which time he was influenced bypietist andMoravian views and came to know BishopPeder Olivarius Bugge. Lammers was then appointed parish priest inBamble. From 1839 to 1844, he was the parliamentary representative at theStorting for the County of Bratsberg (nowTelemark). He served as the architect of the newly constructedBamble Church which was built in 1845 inGothic revival style. He also designedHisøy Church inArendal (1846–1849), Tanum Church inLarvik (1848–1850) and a chapel inSkien (1850). Additionally he designed altarpieces for a number of churches includingBakke Church in Trondheim (1833), Bamble Church (1845), Fiskum Church inØvre Eiker (1866) andBø Church inTelemark (1866).[3][4]
While studying in Germany, Lammers had a religious experience. Upon returning to Norway, he came into contact with a like-minded family focusing on prayer and the reading of the scriptures.
In 1845, theDissenter Act was passed, allowing Christian church gatherings for services other than those of theChurch of Norway.[5] Lammers was ordained head minister (sogneprest) of Christians Church in Skien, but left the Church of Norway in July 1856.[6]Andreas Hauge, son of the more well-knownHans Nielsen Hauge, then took over as head minister in Skien. Lammers then startedDen frie apostolisk-christelige Menighed ('the Free Apostolic Christian Congregation'), the firstdissenter congregation to break with the Church of Norway. The same year, he also publishedForsvar for den frie apostolisk christelige Menighed og dens Forfatnings Grundtræk ('Defense of the Free Apostolic Christian Congregation and its ). Within several years, there were Lammersfree churches and groups in some twenty locations in the country. After members of the new congregation began to practicerebaptism, Lammers returned to the state church in 1860. The congregation was dissolved in 1874.[7]
Artistic interests took a greater place in Lammer's life after this. He also published several collections of hymns, includingChristelig Psalmebog (Skien, 1852). He is buried atLie Cemetery [no] in Skien.
In 1829, he married Henriette Nicoline Rode (1810–1898), daughter of military officerHans Henrik Rode.[8][9] Lammers was the uncle of singerThorvald Lammers.[10]
TheMission Covenant Church of Norway considers Lammers one of its founders.[11] Lammers was noted byHenrik Ibsen as an influence for the character ofBrand in the play of the same name.[12]
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