Churches, Sweden

St. Petri Church is both the oldest preserved church in the city and its oldest preserved brick building. In the 13th century, herring fishing helped Malmö to flourish as a trading town. The Malmö residents came into contact with the Hanseatic cities around the Baltic Sea. There they were inspired to build a new church that would correspond to the city's position. St. Petri Church was probably inaugurated in 1319. Around 1380 the church was completed. The apostle's Peter and Paul became the patron saints of the church. The church building has a tight exterior with pillars and arches. The brick walls are lightened by a few parts with different coloured and glazed bricks. As a building material, clay was used from the district, which was turned into a brick in Malmö. The cream parlour was created in the middle of the 15th century. On the outer walls of the chapel, there are about ten chalkstone figures representing various saints. https://svenskakyrkanmalmo.se/st-petri-kyrka/

Uppsala Cathedral (Uppsala domkyrka) is the largest and tallest cathedral in the Nordic countries. Construction on the cathedral began around 1270, with consecration taking place in 1435. The church towers were added later in the 15th century. The exterior of the medieval cathedral is unknown. The building has undergone several major restorations. Also, the fact that the church of Sweden became Evangelical Lutheran in the 1500s has had an impact on the appearance of the cathedral. Uppsala is the see of the Church of Sweden’s archbishop since 1164 and the place where bishops of other dioceses are consecrated and priest and deacons of Uppsala diocese are being ordained. Until 1719 many coronations took place in the cathedral. The cathedral is used for services every day all year round. The cathedral’s attractions include the reliquary of Saint Erik (Sweden’s patron saint), a medieval Saint Anne altarpiece and the 18th century Baroque pulpit. Mary (The Return) by Anders Widoff, the candle trees by Olof Hellström and wooden sculpture tableaux by Eva Spångberg are appreciated examples of modern art in the cathedral. https://destinationuppsala.se/en/activities/uppsala-cathedral/

Västerås Cathedral, the oldest parts of which date back to the 13th century, is well worth a visit. Its art treasures and modern contrasts are unusual in a shrine of this kind. http://visitvasteras.se/en/actor/vasteras-cathedral/

For almost 800 years people have been coming to worship and pray at Linköping Cathedral. Work on the Cathedral was started in 1230, with the main building works being completed in 1520. The belfry and the west façade were added in 1885. Linköping Cathedral is the most impressive and expensive Swedish church building of the Middle Ages. http://visitlinkoping.se/index.php/en/churches-and-monasteries/link%C3%B6ping-cathedral

Eskilstuna's oldest church, Fors church, is located in central Eskilstuna on the western shore of Eskilstunaån and was erected during the middle of the 11th century on the initiative of the monk S: t Eskil. The old wooden church was replaced by a Romanesque stone church as early as the 11th century. Parts of the old wooden church remain in the north and west walls. The armoury was built during the 17th century when it took its present form. If you are visiting the church, please stay in the armoury and raise your eyes to the classic ship hanging from the ceiling. Fors church got its name after its beautiful location along the river. It belongs to the Eskilstuna parish in Strängnäs diocese. It has probably been the foundation church for an area consisting of western Södermanland, southern Västmanland and eastern Närke. https://eskilstuna.nu/gora/sevardheter/fors-kyrka#googtrans(sv|en)

At the end of the 11th century there was probably a wooden church in Barva. In the 1100s, the construction of a stone church began. During the 15th century, an armory was built on the south-west side of the longhouse. By the middle of the 17th century, the church was extended to its present length and provided with a new sacristy. At the end of the 18th century it was planned to extend the church further. Instead, from 1796 to 1797, cross-arms were erected to the north and the church thus got its present cross-shape. At the same time, the sacristy was enlarged and the armory from the 15th century was demolished. The flat wooden ceiling of the church room was replaced with thin vaulted wood. The current interior is the result of a thorough restoration in 1942. https://eskilstuna.nu/gora/sevardheter/barva-kyrka

Växjö Domkyrka, the cathedral in Växjö is the main church of the Diocese of Växjö and is located on the edge of the modern city center of Växjö. The present ground plan of the church with its striking double tower spire dates from the 15th century, but some fragments are already from the 12th century. The first church on the site of today's Växjö Domkyrka was a small wooden church in the 11th century. According to legend, established on the initiative of the missionary and later canonized Saint Sigfrid. The diocese of Växjö was founded around 1170 and the first cathedral for the new bishops' seat was built. This first cathedral was built of natural stone, had a Romanesque ground plan with only one nave, a narrow chancel with a semicircular apse and a mighty tower. Parts of the old foundations and some pillars in today's main nave, as well as the masonry in the lower part of the church tower remained until today. https://www.guidebook-sweden.com/en/guidebook/destination/vaexjoe-domkyrka-cathedral-vaexjoe

Bergunda church was probably built during the later part of the 12th century as a romanesque church. The church did not initially have a tower; it was added sometime during the 16th century. The church got its present look during a rebuild around 1825 to 1826, where both the in- and outside constructions were concerned. The longhouse is the oldest part of the church and it was built in the end of the 12th century. An expansion to the church was built between 1825 and 1826, which included the present choir, a wing with the sacristy and a balcony, which was meant to host the owners of Bergkvara castle. The balcony is called "the count's balcony" even today. The tower was built during the 16th century, as a defense tower against the danes, who's front was close by. The pulpit, the altarpiece, the altar cloth and the chasuble are all gifts from Bergkvara. The count had advowson, which means the right to appoint the priest, until 1921. https://www2.vaxjo-co.se/en/to-do/a550118/bergunda-church/showdetails

Gammelstad Church Town was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996, and is thereby covered by "The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". The objects on the World Heritage List all bear unique testimony to the history of the world and mankind. They are invaluable to humanity and must be preserved for posterity. The list contains about 750 cultural and natural environments of which the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia and Sveaborg outside Helsinki are among the better known. As well as Gammelstad Church Town, Norrbotten also has the World Heritage Laponia, which is the largest area of wilderness in Europe. Gammelstad is an outstanding example of a Northern Scandinavian church town. More than 400 cottages, which were used on Sundays and during major religious festivals, markets and local courts, are grouped around the late medieval stone church in Gammelstad. The cottages served as an overnight stop for parishioners who lived too far away to make the journey to the church and back in one day. The City of Luleå was founded around the old church in the 17th century. Today Gammelstad consists of a unique assortment of church cottages, year-round dwellings and public buildings. The church cottages are still used in a traditional way. https://visitlulea.se/en/see-do/destination/gammelstads-kyrkstad-vaerldsarv

Luleå Cathedral is a brick cathedral built in neo-Gothic style. When the church was dedicated in 1893, it was called Oscar Fredrik’s Church, after King Oscar II. In 1904, it was renamed Luleå Cathedral when the Luleå diocese was formed. The architect who designed the cathedral was Adolf Emil Melander from Stockholm. https://visitlulea.se/en/see-do/destination/luleaa-domkyrka

St. Helena Church is located in central Skövde and has its name after Skövde's patron saint St. Elin, or St. Helena as she is also called. As a visitor, you can come here to sit down for a while, light a candle or pray. The church stands on a medieval foundation, but what we see today is built in the late 18th century just after the big fire in Skövde in 1759. St. Helena Church is a centrally located excursion destination in Skövde and is open daily for those who want to come in and experience the tranquillity. The church meets old and new in a harmonious way - if you look at the church from the outside you see an older building dating back to the Middle Ages, but on the inside, you are met by a bright and modern church last renovated in 2013. In the church, you can visit both services and concerts. The church can accommodate about 375 people. https://www.vastsverige.com/skovde/produkter/sta-helena-kyrka/