The list is divided into several sections, one for each deanery (prosti; headed by a provost) in the diocese. Administratively within each deanery, the churches within each municipality elects their own church council (fellesråd). Each municipality may have one or more parishes (sokn) within the municipality. Each parish elects their own councils (soknerådet). Each parish has one or more local church. The number and size of the deaneries and parishes has changed over time.[1]
The Kristiansand domprosti has existed for a long time. On 4 May 1819, most of the rural areas in the arch-deanery were separated to form the new Mandal prosti, leaving a much smaller arch-deanery centred around the city of Kristiansand. On 1 January 2020, the parishes in the old municipalities of Songdalen and Søgne were merged into the Kristiansand domprosti when the municipality of Kristiansand was enlarged.[2][3]
This deanery (Norwegian: prosti) covers a small, coastal, urban area covering the municipalities of Arendal and Froland in Agder county. The deanery is headquartered at Trinity Church in the town of Arendal in Arendal municipality.
The deanery was established on 1 January 1872 when it was split off from the Vest-Nedenes prosti. It initially included all the parishes of Trefoldighet, Barbu, Austre Moland, Tromøy, Hisøy, Øyestad, Froland, and Herefoss.[4] The parishes of Austre Moland, Flosta, and Stokken were merged to form the parish of Moland effective 1 January 2018.[5]
The deanery was established on 1 March 1826 when the old Nedenes prosti was divided into Vestre Nedenæs prosti in the west and Østre Nedenæs prosti in the east. A royal resolution on 19 May 1922 changed the deanery name from "Østre Nedenæs prosti" to "Aust-Nedenes prosti".[6][7]
The deanery was created in 1843 when the old Nedre Telemark og Bamble prosti was divided into Nedre Telemark prosti and Bamble prosti. Bamble prosti originally included the parishes of Bamble, Gjerpen, Siljan, Langesund, Drangedal, Eidanger, Brevik, Kragerø, and Porsgrunn. In 1868, the parishes of Siljan, Gjerpen, Porsgrunn, Eidanger, and Brevik were transferred to the newly created Skien prosti.[8]
Otredal prosti, originally called Torridal prosti, was created 10 May 1862 when it was carved out of the three neighboring deaneries of Råbyggelaget prosti, Mandal prosti, and Vestre Nedenes prosti. Initially, it included the municipalities of Oddernes, Øvrebø, Søgne, and Tveit. Over time, the borders of Torridal prosti were changed. In 1883, the Søgne parish was moved (back) to the Mandal prosti and the Tveit parish was moved (back) to the Vestre Nedenes prosti. Also in 1883, the parishes of Valle, Evje, and Bygland joined Torridal prosti when the old Råbyggelaget prosti was dissolved. In 1905, the Tveit parish was moved back (again) to Torridal prosti. On 12 June 1931 the name of the deanery was changed from Torridal prosti to Otredal prosti.[9] On 1 January 2019, the parish of Åseral was moved from Mandal prosti to Otredal prosti.[2]
The deanery was established in 1868 when the parishes of Gjerpen, Siljan, Porsgrunn, Eidanger, and Brevik from Bamble prosti and the parish of Skien from Nedre Telemark prosti were merged.[8][10]
The deanery was established on 1 March 1826 when the old Nedenes prosti was divided into Vestre Nedenæs prosti in the west and Østre Nedenæs prosti in the east. A royal resolution on 19 May 1922 changed the deanery name from "Vestre Nedenæs prosti" to "Vest-Nedenes prosti".[6][11]