The list is divided into several sections, one for each deanery (prosti; headed by a provost) in the diocese. Administratively within each deanery, the churches within each municipality elects their own church council (fellesråd). Each municipality may have one or more parishes (sokn) within the municipality. Each parish elects their own councils (soknerådet). Each parish has one or more local church. The number and size of the deaneries and parishes has changed over time.[1]
In 1844, the new Diocese of Hålogaland was established, with its seat at Tromsø Cathedral. After this, the parish of Tromsø was removed from Tromsø prosti and moved into the new Tromsø stiftsprosti (arch-deanery / later renamed Tromsø domprosti) since it was the seat of the Diocese. On 18 October 1856 the new parish of Balsfjord was established, and then on 10 November 1860, the new parish of Tromsøysund was established and both of these areas were removed from the Tromsø stiftsprosti (arch-deanery) and moved to the Tromsø prosti (deanery). In 1963, the parish of Tromsøysund was transferred from Troms prosti (back) to Tromsø domprosti. In the late 1970s, the parish of Karlsøy was also moved from Troms prosti to Tromsø domprosti.[2]
This deanery was established on 1 April 1991 when parts of the three existing deaneries were transferred to this new Sami-majority deanery: Kautokeino (from Alta prosti), Porsanger and Karasjok (from Hammerfest prosti), and Tana and Nesseby (from Varanger prosti).[7][8] At 25,520.2 square kilometres (9,853.4 sq mi), this is the largest deanery in Norway by size. This deanery is also the only deanery in Norway with a majority of members being Sami people, which is why the Northern Sami language is the administrative language for the deanery. Services are held in both Norwegian and Sami languages.
The old Tromsø prosti was established after the Reformation in Norway in 1589, and at that time, it was part of the Diocese of Nidaros. The deanery originally encompassed the northern part of Troms county. It was considered to be one parish with 8 churches and a total of 4 priests for the whole deanery. Around 1750, the deanery was divided with the creation of the new Senjen prosti in the central part of the county. In 1776, the deanery was divided into four parishes: Tromsø, Karlsøy, Lyngen, and Skjervøy. In 1844, the new Diocese of Hålogaland was established, with its seat at Tromsø Cathedral. After this, the parish of Tromsø was removed from Tromsø prosti and moved into the new Tromsø stiftsprosti (arch-deanery) since it was the seat of the Diocese. This left Karlsøy, Lyngen, and Skjervøy in Tromsø prosti. On 18 October 1856 the new parish of Balsfjord was established, and then on 10 November 1860, the new parish of Tromsøysund was established and both of these areas were removed from the Tromsø stiftsprosti (arch-deanery) and moved to the Tromsø prosti (deanery). A royal resolution on 19 May 1922 changed the deanery name from "Tromsø prosti" to "Troms prosti".[9] In 1963, the Tromsøysund parish was transferred from Troms prosti (back) to Tromsø domprosti. In the late 1970s, the parish of Karlsøy was also moved from Troms prosti to Tromsø domprosti.[2] In 1998, the new Indre Troms prosti was established and the churches in Balsfjord Municipality were transferred from Troms prosti to the new deanery. At the same time, the name of this deanery was changed from Troms prosti to Nord-Troms prosti.
The deanery was established around the year 1750 when the large Tromsø prosti was divided and the southern part became the new Senjens prosti. On 1 January 1860, the southern part of the deanery was split off to become the new Trondenes prosti, leaving Senjen prosti with the parishes of Berg, Tranøy, Lenvik, and Målselv. A royal resolution on 19 May 1922 changed the deanery name from "Senjen prosti" to "Senja prosti".[9][10]
On 1 January 2020, the old Indre Troms prosti was merged with Senja prosti. Indre Troms was in existence from 1998 until 2019. It covered five municipalities in the southeastern part of Troms county: Balsfjord, Bardu, Lavangen, Målselv, and Salangen. The deanery was headquartered at in the village of Bardufoss in Målselv Municipality. The deanery was created in 1998 by transferring Bardu and Målselv municipalities from Senja prosti, Balsfjord from Troms prosti, and Lavangen and Salangen from Trondenes prosti. The old Troms prosti was renamed Nord-Troms prosti at the same time.[2]
Varanger prosti was established on 14 May 1864 when the old Øst-Finnmark prosti was dissolved, moving Lebesby prestegjeld to the newly created Hammerfest prosti and the rest of the old deanery became Varanger prosti.[13] Originally, the parishes in Tana Municipality and Nesseby Municipality were part of the Varanger prosti, but on 1 April 1991, both were moved to the newly created Indre Finnmark prosti.[7][8]