Akebäck Church

Akebäck Church
Akebäcks kyrka
Akebäck Church, external view
Akebäck Church
57°32′50″N 18°23′32″E / 57.54722°N 18.39222°E / 57.54722; 18.39222
Country	Sweden
Denomination	Church of Sweden
Administration
Diocese	Visby

Akebäck Church (Swedish: Akebäcks kyrka) is a medieval Lutheran church on the Swedish island of Gotland, in the Diocese of Visby.

History and architecture

Picture stone being erected outside Akebäck Church, 1931

Akebäck Church is, with the exception of the sacristy, a completely Romanesque church. Most of the building was done at the end of the 12th century, with the tower added during the mid-13th century.^[1] The church was inaugurated in 1149.^[2] Only the sacristy is considerably later, from 1931.^[1]

The church has an almost square nave, a semi-circular apse and a rectangular nave. It has a simple interior. Notable are the original ceramic pots which have been immured in the vault of the church, as a way to improve the acoustics. Another unusual detail is a stone sculpture depicting a stonemason lying down which is immured in the church portal. According to tradition, it was made in memory of one of the men who worked at the church but fell and died during the construction; scholars have suggested that it may on the other hand simply be a stone that was placed in the wrong direction with the picture lying down instead of standing up.^[1]

Among the furnishings, the altar is unusual in that while it is from the 17th century, the crucifix in the middle is a re-used medieval cross, from the 15th century. The baptismal font is from the 13th century.^[1] Of later date is a chandelier, donated in 1850 by a carpenter as a votive gift, "in thanks to divine providence, that kept him safe during fourteen years abroad". The smallest of the two church bells was donated in 1993.^[2]

The church underwent a renovation in 1931–32. During the renovation, a large picture stone was found immured in the church. It was extracted and is now displayed outside the church.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 Lagerlöf, Erland (1973). Lagerlöf, Erland, ed. Gotlands kyrkor (in Swedish). Uddevalla: Rabén & Sjögren. pp. 85–86. ISBN 9129410355.
1 2 "Akebäcks kyrka" (in Swedish). Church of Sweden. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

External links

Media related to Akebäck Church at Wikimedia Commons

Churches on Gotland, Sweden

Akebäck Ala Alskog Alva Anga Ardre Atlingbo Barlingbo Björke Boge Bro Bunge Burs Buttle Bäl Dalhem Eke Ekeby Eksta Endre Eskelhem Etelhem Fardhem Fide Fleringe Fole Follingbo Fröjel Fårö Gammelgarn Ganthem Garde Gerum Gothem Grötlingbo Guldrupe Hablingbo Hall Halla Hamra Hangvar Havdhem Hejde Hejdeby Hejnum Hellvi Hemse Hogrän Hörsne Klinte Kräklingbo Källunge Lau Levide Linde Lojsta Lokrume Lummelunda Lye Lärbro Martebo Mästerby Norrlanda När Näs Othem Roma Rone Rute Sanda Silte Sjonhem Slite Sproge Stenkumla Stenkyrka Stånga Sundre Tingstäde Tofta Träkumla Vall Vallstena Vamlingbo Viklau Visby Cathedral Visborg Vänge Väskinde Västergarn Västerhejde Väte Öja Östergarn

Commons

Coordinates: 57°32′50″N 18°23′32″E / 57.54722°N 18.39222°E / 57.54722; 18.39222

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