Background
Parents:
Nils Olsen Grendstad, b. 1770, d. 1838. Married 1811 to Agneta Larsdatter Moen b. 1789, d. 1881.
Children:
1. Lars, b. 1812.
2. Ole, b. 1815.
3. Haldor, b.1818
4. Andreas, b. 1821. Known as the Church Builder.
5. Jens, b. 1825.
6. Nils, b. 1828.
Andreas the Church Builder was born on the farm Grendstad in Klæbu, approx 15 km south of the city of Trondheim, Norway.
More information about the farm here (in Norwegian language only):
https://lokalhistoriewiki.no/index.php/Grendstad_(Kl%C3%A6bu)
Photos of the Grendstad Farm provided by Haldor B Grendstad.
Grendstad or Grenstad?
Unfortunately, it often happens that his name is misspelled. This makes it difficult to search for information about him. Name may vary between Grenstad, Grendestad, Grendstad or Grinstad . First name varies even more: Andreas, Anders, Nils – even Markus occur …
However, it is likely to believe that this is the same person as the churches are in the same geographical area and are built in the same time period.
I have chosen to call him Grenstad because this is the name he uses when he signs documents.
The places he lived in his adult life
Andreas first lived at the farm “Oppgarden”, in the city of Mosjøen. Here the farmhouse still stands and is in daily use. See photo below (the white house was build by Andreas).
Photo of Oppgarden is from the local newspaper “Helgelendingen”.
More photos here:
http://www.helg.no/lokale-nyheter/drommer-om-oya-som-gronn-lunge/s/1-63-2412075
Later on he built a house in Sjøgata 41 (the Sea street), the city centre of Mosjøen. The house still exists and was until recently a pharmacy.
Photos: Hilde Merete Klungerbo
Later in his life (around 1890), he moved to a farm a bit north of Mosjøen – called Indre Langmoen. His wife lived on this farm until she died in 1928. The farm still exists, but with new buildings.
Photos provided by Mark Mosher.
Andreas Grenstad died from stroke in December 1895.
Link to church book: https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/3892/362
If you want to read more about The Church Builder, you can read this blog post written by Mark Mosher:
https://nordicmountain.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/in-the-far-north/
Andreas the Church Builder/Andreas Kirkebygger 