The catholic age – faith and rituals
The 13th century started as a golden age for Norway.
The King made Stavanger a city under the church’s jurisdiction.
Around the year 1300, some of the national leaders came from Finnøy.
The state, the legal system and church districts were organised. Bishop Thorgills started the city’s first hospital. The calendar was filled with holidays and the Cathedral was filled with holy objects which people could visit and be blessed by.
Rebuilding society after the Black Death (1349-1350) took a long time. The last Catholic bishop described Stavanger as a poor community.
People were increasingly setting their eyes on life after death. There were many religious rituals important for the life to come.