On Tuesday morning, it was discovered that vandalism had been done at Heggen church in Buskerud. The church is located in Vikersund, where there has been a very tense atmosphere in the last two weeks, after a serious episode of violence in the village. – It was a hiker who contacted one of our employees and told them that someone had tagged the wall of our old medieval church, says Nina Brokhaug Røvang, who is a church guardian in Modum municipality. – What did the church look like? – Words that are not compatible with a message we want to convey were written on two of the walls, with thick, black paint. It was tagged on the walls outside the church, in two different places. Canceled torchlight procession She doesn’t want to say anything more about the content that was written, but the text is obviously linked to tonight’s canceled torchlight procession in Vikersund, which should have been organized following the recent unrest in the village. On Monday, two weeks ago, Runar Magnussen (55) was beaten outside a grocery store in the village. He says he only asked a group of young people to calm down and stay away from the store, while they claim he made racist statements – something he has denied. An 18-year-old has admitted the violence, and last week was detained for four weeks. The organizers of the torchlight procession fear for safety after the event was divided into right-wing radical and anti-immigration groups, writes Bygdeposten. – We have received indications that people want to overthrow this commemoration, and then we found it wisest to cancel the torchlight procession, says Frank Teige-Hølen. Hostile message – We do not want attention to the text, because we do not want it to be conveyed from our churches. We have hung white tablecloths over the text, and then the church servant has gone down to buy paint. There will be temporary paint there, she says. After a few hours, the congregation had painted over the message that was written on two of the church’s walls. Photo: Modum menighet The church dates from the Middle Ages and was first built in Romanesque style in the early 13th century with limestone from the area. From 1697–1725 it was expanded into a cruciform church. It has conservation status as protected. – As it is a medieval church, there are strict restrictions on what you can use. But this will be temporary to cover up. – What do you think about what has happened? – It is sad that someone writes ugly words about others, with a message that is too written to create hatred or xenophobia, or pit people against each other. I think it is especially sad when it happens in a church. It is a place where people should be able to come in sorrow and joy, and it should be a place that is open to everyone. And where you will at least not be met by these attitudes when you get there. Lots of speculation Considering the situation in Vikersund at the moment, the tagging has already led to speculation. Nina Brokhaug Røvang, church guardian in Modum municipality. Photo: Modum congregation – It’s a bit hectic now, so it may be that it has something to do with it. But that will only be speculation, says Røvang. The church called the police, who quickly arrived on the scene. They have carried out crime scene investigations, taken pictures and checked the area. news has been in contact with the police, who do not want to say anything about the message on the wall. They confirm that they have been on the scene, and opened a case. – It would have been nice if they could have found them, and been able to talk to them about what they think about what they have done, which both damages an old venerable medieval church, and which can lead to more fear in society, says church guardian Røvang. – So you really hope that you can enter into a dialogue with them? – Yes, it would have been very nice if the police or we could have had conversations with them, to find out what is behind it. Is there anything we can do together to prevent it from happening again? Published 27.08.2024, at 10.54 Updated 27.08.2024, at 11.38
ttn-69
– We do not want attention to the text – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
