Cathedral of Christ the King

About Cathedral of Christ the King

The Cathedral of Christ the King, known in Icelandic as Landakotskirkja, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in Iceland and the only Catholic cathedral in the country. It stands on Landakot hill at Túngata in the west of downtown Reykjavík, a short uphill walk from the Tjörnin pond, City Hall and the Alþingi parliament building.

The church was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, the state architect who also designed Hallgrímskirkja and Akureyrarkirkja, and was completed and consecrated on 23 July 1929. It is built of concrete in a neo-Gothic style, which makes it unusual among Icelandic churches, and its square tower has a flat top rather than a spire. Because it sits on a rise, the tower is visible from much of the old town.

Inside, the nave is simple and light, with pointed arches, stained glass and an organ. All three altars were brought from the older Catholic church at Landakot, which was dedicated in 1897. The cathedral serves a congregation that has grown considerably in recent decades, largely through immigration, and Mass is celebrated in Icelandic, English and Polish.

Visiting is free. The church is usually open during the day outside service times, but opening hours are not published for tourists, and visitors should be quiet and respectful when a service is on. Check the parish Mass schedule if you want to attend a service. A visit takes 15 to 20 minutes and fits easily into a walk around the old west side, together with the pond, the parliament and the Settlement Exhibition.