Hallgrímskirkja church is one of the most popular destinations of Reykjavík. Hundreds stop in front of the church every day to snap photos of its unique spire while hundreds more travel up the tower to enjoy the view from the highest building in Reykjavík. Every year as many as 200,000 visitors travel to the top of the tower. The old elevator in the tower is barely keeping up, forcing the church to make some tough choices.
Read more: Seven interesting facts about one of Reykjavík’s best known landmarks, Hallgrímskirkja church
Until recently the tower was also home to a number of offices, including the Icelandic Bible Society. However, the church has been forced to abandon these offices, since it has become increasingly difficult for staff to reach the offices, since the tower is served by one old elevator which can barely keep up with the throngs of tourists who want to get up to the viewing deck at the top of the tower.
Sigurður Árni Þórðarson, the pastor of Hallgrímskirkja, told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that a decision had been made to close the offices in the tower due to safety considerations. With the crowds of travellers who use the elevator to get to the top of the tower, it was basically impossible for the staff to get down in the case of emergency.
Between 500 and 700,000 people visit the church every year, Sigurður tells Morgunblaðið, and between 150,000 and 200,000 go to the top of the tower to enjoy the view. Serving this ever growing number of visitors requires a new elevator.
A new and faster elevator will be installed later this year or early 2017.
Hallgrímskirkja church is one of the most popular destinations of Reykjavík. Hundreds stop in front of the church every day to snap photos of its unique spire while hundreds more travel up the tower to enjoy the view from the highest building in Reykjavík. Every year as many as 200,000 visitors travel to the top of the tower. The old elevator in the tower is barely keeping up, forcing the church to make some tough choices.
Read more: Seven interesting facts about one of Reykjavík’s best known landmarks, Hallgrímskirkja church
Until recently the tower was also home to a number of offices, including the Icelandic Bible Society. However, the church has been forced to abandon these offices, since it has become increasingly difficult for staff to reach the offices, since the tower is served by one old elevator which can barely keep up with the throngs of tourists who want to get up to the viewing deck at the top of the tower.
Sigurður Árni Þórðarson, the pastor of Hallgrímskirkja, told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that a decision had been made to close the offices in the tower due to safety considerations. With the crowds of travellers who use the elevator to get to the top of the tower, it was basically impossible for the staff to get down in the case of emergency.
Between 500 and 700,000 people visit the church every year, Sigurður tells Morgunblaðið, and between 150,000 and 200,000 go to the top of the tower to enjoy the view. Serving this ever growing number of visitors requires a new elevator.
A new and faster elevator will be installed later this year or early 2017.
