Mystery in the Church

The Embriodery Code

Earlier this week I posted a Photo of a Cloth with embriodery (at Fotothing). - In fact an Altar Cloth.

Picture text:
Embriodery found in a Norwegian West Coast Church (Giske), build in 1150 by Marbel from Italy. You see the age of the embriodery on the cloth.

Next morning I received the following comment:

From: senna3 Jan 25 2007 08:39 GMT
I like such pictures very much. You managed to get a very clear and sharp result! What does HOSBACDB mean? Click for larger views

Here is my answer:
From: taaboe Jan 25 2007 00:42 GMT
Thank you so much. It was hard to take this picture, as it's not allowed to use flash, and besides it's very gloomy inside the Church (made from Marmor brought from Italy more than 700 hundred years ago- by a private family;D)
Note: I was wrong about the age of the Church

I checked the commenters profile, and found out he is a Dutch retiree. With other words, I figured, a person serious about the question. As I did not have the answer to this ”Giske-code”, I searched the Net (What else ;D). Finnaly I came across an e-mail adress and explained the Issue by mail. Clicked SEND and crossed my fingers. It was a Hotmail-adress, so I was not very optimistic (not me normally) to receive a quick answer.

But how wrong can one be. When back from work: A replay to my e-mail in the Mail-box.

Opened that one first (of more than 35 incoming mails – even before those from my regular readers).
I was quite anxious – Would I find the answer. Read for yourself (translated to English)

Quotation:
Hey,
It’s been uncertain about this cloth, but in the local historybook ”Borgund and Giske”, I do find a possible version:
The cloth is made by a young girl. Her name was Karen Breier. What you are asking for should according to what I read might be the initials of her parents: HOSB = Hans Olufsen Breier (1623-1704). He was vicar in Aukra and Dean in Romsdal. And his wife, ACDB = Anne Christensdatter Bernhoft (1624 – 1705)
Regards
Inger Magelssen Godø

Hurray, the code was cracket. HOSB on the left side was the young Embroidist’s father’s initials and ACDB on the right side, her mother’s. Then I posted a replay to the Dutchman.

Some facts about Giske Church and the Surroundings:

Findings in Graves and other Relics of the past, tells us about Settlements 8000 years ago in this Archipelago of the Norwegian Westh Coast. Fishing and Farming was the foundation for the development of these old settlements.

Fishing is still important.
You can rent a Rorbu here at Alnes

The Church was build around 1150 as a private chapel for the powerful Noble Family Arnunge, and is the only Marbel Church left in Norway. The Marble Blocks were transported on ships all the way from Italy in the 12th Century, and payed by the family. The Arnunge family was second to the King in the Middle Age Norway.
Due to the fact, Marble is not sustainable to the Climate on the Islands, the church’s outer Walls now are covered by Mortar. More pics and text (Norw)

Excellent guidance in English during Summermonths. So if you’re around, have a visit to the Church and to the Lighthouse on the Neighbouring Island plus the ancient fishing harbour close to Alnes Lighthouse. If you would like to swim westbound, next stop is Greenland.

Go to this Norwegian blog for lots of gorgeous pic's from the area. Here is more information in English.

Most people goes back to Aalesund, a Town completely rebuild in Art Nouvau (Jugend) after the Townfire a January Winternight in 1904.You can also visit the North Sea Oceanpark with a.o. a large Aquarium.

Greetings from Anna and Tor + Rosa and Felicia. Have a Joyful Sunday:-)

In the meantime listen to Ruth. It's great Lyrics, song and melody for your soul