Älvkarleby kyrka

Timeline

1. 1478-1489

   The nave

   The nave is the oldest part of the church, taking eleven years from the laying of the foundations to completion. The porch is probably of the same build, which makes the west entrance part of the original plan rather than a later addition… Read more

2. 1490

   Completion

   The church was consecrated by Archbishop Jakob Ulvsson. Walls and vaults were already richly painted by then, so the decoration had been carried out while the building was being finished rather than added in a later campaign, and the… Read more

3. 1690-1702

   Chapel / choir

   A new three sided choir was built at the east end, with a burial vault under its floor, and stood ready in 1702. The late medieval sacristy was pulled down and replaced with a new one on the north side, and a small turret was set on the… Read more

4. 1829

   Renovation

   The small turret that had stood over the choir since the rebuilding at the turn of the previous century was taken down. Its removal left the choir roof unbroken, and the church was left without any spire of its own, with the bells kept in… Read more

5. 1834

   Renovation

   The open shingle clad bell tower was rebuilt in a neoclassical form, becoming two falu red cubes with tented roofs and clock faces. The rebuilding closed an open timber frame into a painted solid volume, and the tower carried clocks from… Read more

6. 1890-1891

   Interior

   The medieval paintings on the nave vaults were uncovered. The wall paintings were too badly damaged to bring back, so the walls were given stencilled patterns instead and the choir decorated with ornament in the same manner. The side… Read more

7. 1964-1965

   Interior

   The lime paintings were cleaned and new floors laid in the aisle and the choir. The late medieval altar cabinet was brought back into use as the altar ornament, so the east end was given back a fitting close in date to the building of the… Read more