Geir Eikenes and a Committee representative, to be announced, lay a wreath at the memorial plaque to Eidsvoll delegate Jens Rolfsen at Korskirkegården.
At approximately 08:15 on 17 May 2027, a wreath is laid at the memorial plaque for Eidsvoll delegate Jens Rolfsen in Korskirken churchyard. Geir Eikenes and a representative of the 17 May Committee (name to be announced) lay the wreath. This follows the wreath laying at the Alvøen memorial at the same church.
Bergen’s representative at Eidsvoll
Jens Rolfsen (1765–1819) was a merchant and delegate to the Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll. Born in Kristiansand, he traded in Bergen from 1803. In 1814, he represented Bergen at Eidsvoll alongside Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie, Fredrik Meltzer and Jonas Rein.
Rolfsen belonged to the Independence Party and served on the assembly’s finance committee. He also joined the delegation that offered Christian Frederik the Norwegian crown on 17 May 1814. The wreath laying recalls Bergen’s contribution to creating the Constitution.
The plaque at Korskirken
Rolfsen died in 1819 and was buried at Korskirken. His grave was subsequently removed, but an oval soapstone plaque on the north wall of the church’s chancel preserves his memory. It bears his name, the dates 1765–1819 and 17 May 1914 — the Constitution’s centenary.
Getting there
Go to the north side of Korskirken’s chancel to find the plaque. This is in the same church grounds as the Alvøen memorial, but is a different monument. The map link identifies Korskirken as a starting point. Be considerate and keep passages clear.
Historical sources: Store norske leksikon — Jens Rolfsen, Norges Kirker — Korskirken and Bergensposten 2/2011.