Iceland Secondary School

By Sven Hagen Jensen

Sven Hagen Jensen, M.Div. (Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA) has worked for the church for over 50 years as a pastor, editor, departmental director, and church administrator in Denmark, Nigeria and the Middle East. Jensen enjoys reading, writing, nature and gardening. He is married to Ingelis and has two adult children and four grandchildren.

First Published: March 22, 2023

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Iceland Secondary School (Hlíðardalsskóli) is a coeducational boarding school on the senior high school level that is situated at Ölfusi 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Reykjavík and owned by the Iceland Conference. The property, which covers an extensive area of mountain and lava fields, totals 30,000 acres (12,000 hectares), of which about 100 acres (40 hectares) are tillable land. Widespread sections are suitable as pastorage for sheep.¹

History

The work of constructing the school building began on June 8, 1949. In the fall of 1950, the school opened with 19 students, one teacher, and the principal, Julius Gudmunssen, who was also the conference president. The building was dedicated on September 24, 1951, by A. F. Tarr, then the president of the Northern European Division.² ³

Since the enrollment soon exceeded 40, the number for which the building was initially planned, work was begun in early 1956 on a new dormitory which was occupied by 40 boys in the fall of 1959. It was officially dedicated in 1960, the tenth anniversary of the school’s opening. The school operated grades 8 to 10, which led the pupils to receive the Grunnskólapróf (General Certificate of Education), allowing them to enter college.

In 1967 a share of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering made possible an experimental drilling for hot water, of which there has been plenty in the vicinity. The drilling proved successful – a miracle according to the geologists, an answer to prayer according to the Church. This underground thermal steam about 120 C (250 F) was harnessed, and since then, it has provided all the heat necessary for heating and leaves much water and steam unused. Part of this surplus has been used for an outdoor swimming pool and for a greenhouse.⁴ ⁵

The school employed four teachers, including at times the conference president. It became a very popular school with the highest enrollment of 85 in 1973, with approximately 50 percent coming from non-Adventist homes. Another 100 applications had to be turned down at the time. A number of young people have been baptized at the end of the school years. For several years, applications to enter the school exceeded the accommodations available, which resulted in many being turned away.⁶ Gradually, fewer and fewer students came from Adventist homes.

The school farm had about 20 head of cattle, 350 sheep and 600 chickens, but in 1989, farming was discontinued, and the farm was rented out to a church member.

During the summer months of 1954-1964, while school was in recess, the buildings at the school were used for a sanitarium. Since then, it has been used for various summer activities for children. For four summers, the buildings were rented to the city of Reykjavík as a camp for children with mental disabilities. Also the Church has conducted camps and Vacation Bible Schools during recess.⁷

Hlíðardalsskóli proved more and more difficult to operate. Fewer applications and the termination of public funding, which the school had enjoyed for a number of years, as well as a steady decrease in the number of Adventist students lead to the closure of the school in 1995.⁸

The school facilities now function as a center for leisure with courses run by a group of volunteers.⁹

Principals

Julius Gudmundsson (1950-1951); O. J. Olsen (1951-1952); Julius Gudmundsson (1952-1954); Sigfuss Hallgrimsson (1954.1955); Julius Gudmundsson (1955-1960); Sigudur Bjarnason (1960-1964); Jon H. Jonsson (1964-1972); Julius Gudmundsson (1972-1974); Björgvin Snorrason (1974-1979); Gudmundur Ólafsson (1979-1982); Árni Hólm (1982-1984); Einar V. Arason (1984-1985); John H. Jonsson (1985-1988); Erling B. Snorrason (1988-1993); Björgvin Snorrason (1993-1994); Asta Gudjonsdottir (1994-1995).¹⁰

Sources

Gudmundsson, Eric. “A Strategy for Revitalization and Growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iceland.” Research paper, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, U.S.A., 2005.

Mansell, D. E. “Session High Lights.” ARH, June 17, 1970.

“News and Notes, Northern Europe – West Africa.” ARH, January 7, 1979.

Seventh-Day Adventist Encyclopedia. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1996. S.v. “Iceland Secondary School.”

Tarr, A. F. “Enjoyable Visit to Iceland.” ARH, November 29, 1951.

Notes

Seventh-Day Adventist Encyclopedia (1996), “Iceland Secondary School.”↩
Ibid.↩
A. F. Tarr, “Enjoyable Visit to Iceland,” ARH, November 29, 1951, 18.↩
Seventh-Day Adventist Encyclopedia (1996), “Iceland Secondary School.”↩
D. E. Mansell, “Session High Lights,” ARH, June 17, 1970, 2.↩
“News and Notes, Northern Europe – West Africa,” ARH, January 7, 1979, 16-17.↩
Seventh-Day Adventist Encyclopedia (1996), “Iceland Secondary School.”↩
Eric Gudmundsson, “A Strategy for Revitalization and Growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iceland, Research paper, Andrews University, 2005, 238-239.↩
Eric Gudmundsson, email message to author, March 8, 2023.↩
Seventh-Day Adventist Encyclopedia (1996), “Iceland Secondary School.”↩