
Eiker history
Tekst Bent Ek
The Church and the parish priests
Nøstetangen Glasværk two parcels of Haug Prestegård - Nøstetangen and N østeverket.

Since the Reformation in 1537, the church in Denmark-Norway had been part of the state, with the King as head, and the priests were royal officials. The church service and the church acts – baptisms, weddings and funerals – were an important part of people's daily lives.
But during the 18th century, the church also took on an expanded social mission, with the introduction of confirmation in 1736 and a community school three years later. It also played an important role in the development of a poorhouse, and royal laws and decrees were announced on the church grounds after church services.
Thus, the parish priest became a cornerstone of the absolute state's civil service.
The main church and rectory at Eiker were geographically centrally located, close to the sound site of Haugsund. There were several homesteads here, and the "Egerske Company" had a practice area at the church. In 1741, the Nøstetangen glassworks was also built on the rectory grounds.
Between 1741 and 1776 there were four parish priests at Eiker. Peder Anchersen had held the office since 1720, and previously he had been ship's chaplain for Peter Wessel Tordenskjold. He is described as He was parish priest until 1749, when he was succeeded by Christian Grave He was a poet and collector of antiques, very interested in history and was appointed Peder Jespersen Nyrop Lorentz Schnitler
The tombstones of Nyrop and Schnitler can still be seen in the cemetery at Haug Church, where they are among the oldest tombstones.