Stockholm Churches
Your comprehensive guide to Everything Stockholm
Riddarholmskyrkan
Riddarholmskyrkan, or the Riddarholmen Church is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric of Stockholm´s churches. It is close to the Royal Palace on the historic and largely unspoiled island of Riddarholmen (Knights Island) in Stockholm’s old town. The church has served as the final resting place for the Swedish royal family and various other members of the aristocracy ever since it was originally constructed in the late 13th Century.
The earliest Kings entombed at Riddarholmskyrkan are Magnus III, who died in 1290 and Charles VIII who died in 1470. With the exception of Queen Christina, all of Sweden’s monarchs from Gustavus Adolphus(1632) to Gustaf V(1950) are also laid to rest here.
Originally designed as a Greyfriar monastery, Kings Gustav Vasa and Gustav III both had intentions to remove the church altogether but, luckily, their plans never bore fruit and now Riddarholmskyrkan stands as Stockholm’s last remaining abbey. The church held its final congregation in 1807 and is now purely used for burials and memorial services. It is looked after by the National Property Board (SFV) along with the Office of the Marshal of the Realm.
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Following the Protestant Reformation, the building ceased to be used as a monastery and was transformed into a Protestant church. The first spire of Riddarholmskyrkan was constructed around 1500, following designs by Willem Boy, but this had to be replaced with a more robust, cast iron structure after a lighting strike that destroyed the original in 1835.
Riddarholmskyrkan has a strong association with the knights from the Order of the Seraphim and the church walls are decorated with their coats of arms. The knights themselves are also buried in the Church, and it is at the time of their funerals that the coats of arms are added to the collection.
Riddarholmskyrkan is only open to the public through summer, although it is also used year-round as a venue for a variety of concerts as well as bell ringing sessions organised by Order of the Seraphim.
Riddarholmskyrkan is open May15th to 31st 10:00 to 16:00, June 1st to August 31st 10:00 to 17:00 and Sept 1st to 14th 10:00 to 16:00
| Riddarholmskyrkan | ||
| Address: | Gymnasiegränd, 11128 Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Telephone: | 8 402 61 30 | Click to view map |
Storkyrkan
Positioned next to the Royal Palace, on the island of Gamla Stan, Storkyrkan (strictly Sankt Nikolai kyrka - Saint Nicklaus’ Church) has been Stockholm’s Cathedral since 1942. The oldest Parish Church in the entire city, Storkyrkan Dates back to the middle of the thirteenth Century. It has also traditionally been the Swedish Coronation Church, and has, through the centuries, seen a great many Royal and ceremonial occasions including the 1976 marriage of King Carl XVI and Silvia Sommerlath.
The church exterior is of soft red brick, and stands as a classic example of Swedish Gothic architecture. J.E. Carlsberg refaced Storkyrkan, along with many other important city buildings, in the baroque style in the mid 18th Century. He also created the present west tower, which stands at 66 metres in height. A final transformation came in 1860, when the Gothic tracery was added to the side windows.
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Inside the church has huge and dramatic brick built piers and Gothic vaults with the lower outer aisles partnering the full height central hall church. Dating from 1698 the ornate gold pulpit is notable for no less than four hourglasses, whilst either side stand the Royal Pews, designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, with their giant canopy crowns and a 3.7 metre tall candlestick that dates to around 1470. The silver and ebony altar is some 250 years old and stands beside a 500-year-old, 2-metre tall bell, whilst to one side is a 9 metre high fresco of the last judgement painted in 1696.
Storkyrkan is well known for a substantial collection of memorials and relics, with top billing going to an enormous wooden sculpture depicting St George and his battle with the Dragon. Made in 1489 by the German Bernt Notke, this was commissioned by Sten Sture the Elder and was intended to commemorate his victory over the Danes at the Battle of Brunkeberg in 1471. The statue is also alleged to contain relics from Saint George himself, along with those from two further saints.
Also particularly notable is a 1632 copy of the so-called Sun Dog Painting (Vädersolstavlan), the oldest surviving image of Stockholm, the lost original of which was painted in 1535.
| Storkyrkan | ||
| Address: | Trånsgund, Gamla Stan Metro | |
| Email: | n/a | |
| Telephone: | 723 30 00 | |
| Fax: | n/a | |
| Admission: | Free | Click to view map |
Allhelgonakyrkan
Situated in Helgalund Park, on the island Södermalm in central Stockholm, Allhelgonakyrkan is a large 20th Century city church that was deliberately intended to copy the look and feel of a traditional 18th century country church.
Designed by the architect Joel Norborg Allhelgonakyrkan was completed in 1918, the result of a local campaign to bring a church to Södermalm. Constructed largely of wood, the walls and ceiling are covered with fine paintings by the celebrated Swedish artist Filip Månsson, as well as a 1960 tripych of the holy trinity, by Erik Abrahamson. 1961 saw Allhelgonakyrkan refurbished and expanded with the addition of a new bridal chamber and sanctuary.
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Within just a few years of opening Allhelgonakyrkan ran into financial problems and look set to be closed or possibly even demolished, but was instead saved when the association of the Friends of Allhelgonakyrkan was formed in order to preserve the church and help with its running costs.
Far more than just a place of worship the church is also the centre of an extremely busy, thriving and active range of social and cultural activities arranged by the Friends of Allhelgonakyrkan. A programme of the lectures, discussion groups, photographic exhibitions and mediation meetings can be obtained, whilst the church is also used as a venue for many concerts and has associations with several of the city choirs.
Allhelgonakyrkan has a small café that serves breakfast and lunch, where you can choose from a largely vegetarian selection of food or just have a coffee and sandwich.
| Allhelgonakyrkan | ||
| Address: | Helgalunden 17, 118 58 Stockholm | |
| Website: | www.allhelgonakyrkan.se | |
| Email: | allhelgona@svkyrkankatarina.com | |
| Telephone: | 640 18 00 | |
| Fax: | n/a | Click to view map |
