Church of Gärdslösa
The Church of Gärdslösa is the church of on the Swedish Baltic island of Öland lying place Gärdslösa . It is considered to be the best preserved medieval church in Öland.
architecture
It is assumed that there was a wooden church in Gärdslösa as early as the 11th century, but this could not be proven. The current building dates back to the 12th century. The nave was consecrated in 1138. The tower to the west of the ship was built at the end of the 12th century. In the course of the redesign to a fortified church against pagan pirates , the tower was increased by one defensive floor around 1200.
The cross arms going north and south from the nave were built in the middle of the 13th century. The ceilings of the cross arms are vaulted. There is a portal on the north and south sides . As builder of the cross arms and those under there pillars including plinths and capitals is Håkan Tanna suspected.
Around 1270, an original apse-shaped choir was demolished and the current one was just being built instead. The east facade of the choir is crowned by a stepped gable decorated with blind arches . Until the nave was widened, the new choir was wider than the nave.
The sacristy was built in the 18th century. Access from the choir is through an old Romanesque portal. On the south side of the church there are remains of an earlier sacristy.
Interior
The incisions on the western wall of the southern arm of the cross are remarkable. A runic inscription with the text that Jon forged or made is clearly recognizable .
Various old wall paintings can also be found in the church. A representation of St. Margaret can be seen on the eastern wall of the northern arm of the cross. The representation dates from the middle of the 13th century, when the cross arms were frescoed . The nave itself was designed in 1498 by Magnus Igeldi , among others . There were images of apostles, but also decorative tendrils, ribbon ornaments and consecration crosses.
The paintings that can be seen in the choir today were created later. While the coat of arms showing a wolf on the north wall of the choir was created at the end of the 16th century, the other paintings date from 1642. Scenes from the Old Testament are shown. Samson killing a lion, the flight of Absalom , the fratricide of Cain and the sacrifice of Isaac were depicted. On the south wall, in addition to long inscriptions in Gothic style, there are also David and Goliath and Bathsheba in the bath. At the same time, the late medieval paintings were modernized. The name of the artist is unknown, possibly he was otherwise active in Kalmar Castle . As early as 1781, however, the paintings were repainted. It was not until 1958 that it was exposed and conserved.
The consoles of the vault, richly decorated with figures, are also remarkable . The name of this artist is also not known. It is believed that he came from Gotland .
The oldest piece of furniture in the church is the triumphal cross from around 1300 . The Madonna was created at the end of the 15th century.
The pulpit on the south side was created in 1666 by the Scottish artists Peter and Jonas Bundie , who worked in Kalmar . The pulpit bears eight panels decorated with pictures, on which seven apostles are shown next to Christ . At about the same time Jacobus Hartmann from Leipzig created the hourglass .
The font was donated in 1670 and is made from Öland limestone . The model of the sailing ship Nyckeln , which sank in 1679, hangs in the northwest part of the church .
Between 1764 and 1766, the painter And G. Wadsten and the sculptor Jonas Berggren created the altarpiece . Several items also date from the 18th century, such as the chandelier, the number plate, the sacrament implements made of silver , the bridal crown as well as a chasuble and a chalice veil .
On June 30, 1964, the Swedish Princess Margaretha Désirée Victoria married her husband John Ambler in the church.
Churchyard
In the churchyard there are two tomb gable stones from the 13th century. In front of the southern portal is a sundial , the base of which is an old baptismal font. The wooden entrance gates to the churchyard date from the 18th century. Nearby iron rings were used to tie up the horses of church visitors.
In the northwestern part of the churchyard you can see the foundation walls of a guild house . The burial chapel that exists today was built in 1968 . The Swedish poet Erik Johan Stagnelius was born in the rectory in 1793 .
The Minneskors , one of Sweden's oldest stone crosses, probably from the 12th century, is located 200 meters east of Tjusby .
literature
- The church of Gärdslösa. Leaflet without the year and author
Web links
Coordinates: 56 ° 47 ′ 34.8 " N , 16 ° 44 ′ 15.5" E