he church is located in Nome, Telemark, and probably built at the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th century, and was dedicated to St. Lawrence on Sept. 26th. Lawrence was one of the seven deacons in the city of Rome. He suffered martyrdom in 258 A.C. here today you see the bell tower, there was a draughty wooden entrance hall. Women who came to the church the first time after child birth, had to wait here to be "cleansed" - in order to attend service again. he wooden fence that earlier surrounded the church and cementary, was in 1931-32 replaced by the stone wall you see today. Built by the last stone masons guild in Telemark. During the last world war, the home guard used the roof over the front gate as a hiding place for arms and explosives. n 1723 dean Alstrup from Bamble bought the church from king Fredrik IVth. Later owners were the families Løvenskiold, Cappelen and Aall. When the parish took over the church in 1986, - it was the only church in private ownership in Norway. he three forged iron crosses on the south side of the church are made by master smiths at Ulefoss ironworks.   -   Henrik Ibsens great-grandparents are burried here. Unfortunately, the graves are today without any markers. he interior of the church is from the period after the reformation (1735). Altarpiece, pulpit, font, candlesticks etc. were given to the church by private families in the period 1700-1760. n the winter,- the church is too cold to use.   In the summer however, the church is used for funerals, weddings and sunday services (6 each year). In July the church is also open every wednesday from 7-8 p.m. ,  - and includes a short evensong.