Lundby Old Church
Encyclopedia
The Lundby Old Church is a church in Lundby
, a borough of Gothenburg
, Sweden
. It belongs to the parish of Lundby in the Diocese of Gothenburg.
It is one of the seven preserved medieval churches in Gothenburg, and the only one of them representing Gothic architecture
. It originates from the 14th century, but the bell tower had not been erected until 1634. The church has been renovated many times, most recently in 1998.
The coats of arms
of the noble families Cronacker, Eketrä, Stålhandske and Ihre can be found in the church. The Stålhandske and Ihre families built their own grave chapels at the southern wall; the Ihre chapel is still preserved today, while the Stålhandske chapel was torn down and the coffins were moved to the family grave in the surrounding churchyard.
baptismal font
, however, comes from an older wooden church that had existed in the same place and whose remains were not discovered until the early 20th century.
Since the mid-17th century, when the bell tower next to the building was erected, the church has been renovated many times. For example, until the 19th century it had no windows. Following the erection of a new church in the neighborhood in 1886, the Lundby Old Church was supposed to be torn down. It was saved thanks to protests by dean Peter Rydholm. The church was equipped with electricity in 1934 and with a modern ventilation system in 1998, which has been the latest major renovation up to this time.
, called Lundby Old Churchyard (Swedish: Lundby gamla kyrkogård). It has an area of 1.7 hectares and houses around 1700 graves. The first records of it come from 1788, and the oldest existing map from 1856. The oldest tombstones, however, bear dates from late 17th century. The area has probably been used as a burial ground since the 13th century, as long as the church has existed.
Lundby, Gothenburg
Lundby is a suburb and borough of Gothenburg, Sweden. It is located in the central part of the Hisingen island, stretching along the northern shore of the Göta River...
, a borough of Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. It belongs to the parish of Lundby in the Diocese of Gothenburg.
It is one of the seven preserved medieval churches in Gothenburg, and the only one of them representing Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
. It originates from the 14th century, but the bell tower had not been erected until 1634. The church has been renovated many times, most recently in 1998.
The coats of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the noble families Cronacker, Eketrä, Stålhandske and Ihre can be found in the church. The Stålhandske and Ihre families built their own grave chapels at the southern wall; the Ihre chapel is still preserved today, while the Stålhandske chapel was torn down and the coffins were moved to the family grave in the surrounding churchyard.
History
The church was probably build in the late 14th century. Its RomanesqueRomanesque art
Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century, or later, depending on region. The preceding period is increasingly known as the Pre-Romanesque...
baptismal font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
, however, comes from an older wooden church that had existed in the same place and whose remains were not discovered until the early 20th century.
Since the mid-17th century, when the bell tower next to the building was erected, the church has been renovated many times. For example, until the 19th century it had no windows. Following the erection of a new church in the neighborhood in 1886, the Lundby Old Church was supposed to be torn down. It was saved thanks to protests by dean Peter Rydholm. The church was equipped with electricity in 1934 and with a modern ventilation system in 1998, which has been the latest major renovation up to this time.
Churchyard
The church is surrounded by a small churchyardChurchyard
A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....
, called Lundby Old Churchyard (Swedish: Lundby gamla kyrkogård). It has an area of 1.7 hectares and houses around 1700 graves. The first records of it come from 1788, and the oldest existing map from 1856. The oldest tombstones, however, bear dates from late 17th century. The area has probably been used as a burial ground since the 13th century, as long as the church has existed.