19th Century Norway, Churches Threatened by Demolition ?

[Old Winter]

When i was reading about the history of the Fantoft Stave Church in Norway one article said:

In the 19th century the church was threatened by demolition, as were hundreds of other stave churches in Norway.

Is this true ? and if so, why ?

[Heinrich Harrer]

This might be the reason (quote from the german version of the same wiki page):

Ein Gesetz von 1851, das besagte, dass jede Kirche mindestens 30 Prozent der Gemeinde beherbergen können musste, bedeutete das Aus für die meisten der bis dahin erhaltenen Stabkirchen in Norwegen. Im Jahre 1879 sollte die Kirche zugunsten eines Neubaus abgerissen werden und, wie damals wegen der allgemein herrschenden Armut üblich, als Brennholz verkauft werden.

A rough translation:
A new law passed in 1851 required that each church must have at least enough space/capacity for 30 percent of the church community, which meant that many old stave churches were too small. That's why they planned to demolish it in favor of a bigger new church, while selling the wood of the old church as firewood (as was usual back then due to the general poverty).

[Bloemfontein]

Looks like they were forward thinking. As a wooden church today would be a prime target for Satanists and other problematic citizens.
Also, churches made of stone/brick tend to last longer and look much more grand

[Granraude]

Stave churches look more "grand" than any stone church I have ever seen.

And no proper satanist would burn down a church (egotistic bunch). Wannabes might though.

[Hersir]

Stave churches look more "grand" than any stone church I have ever seen.

And no proper satanist would burn down a church (egotistic bunch). Wannabes might though.

The west-scandinavian type is really nice, but the east-scandinavian one not so much...