Alskog Church
{{Infobox church
| name = Alskog Church
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| native_name = Alskogs kyrka
| native_name_lang = Swedish
| image = Alskogs kyrka 2019.jpg
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| caption = Alskog Church, view of the exterior
| pushpin map = Sweden Gotland
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| map caption = Location on Gotland
| coordinates = {{coord|57.33144|18.62733|format=dms|type:landmark_region:SE|display=inline,title}}
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| country = Sweden
| denomination = Church of Sweden
| previous denomination = Catholic
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| diocese = Visby
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Alskog Church ({{langx|sv|Alskogs kyrka}}) is a medieval church in Alskog on the Swedish island of Gotland. The church in its entirety dates from the 13th century, with the last additions probably being made c. 1300. A few alterations are of later date. It contains several medieval furnishings, as well as some medieval stained glass windows. Alskog Church belongs to the Church of Sweden and lies in the Diocese of Visby.
History and architecture
The oldest part of the church is the nave, dating from the first quarter of the 13th century. It displays an unusual southern portal, decorated with sculptures. Inside, the nave is divided in two parts by two central columns and has a vaulted ceiling. The tower is somewhat later but also from the early 13th century. Its portal show similarities with the tower portal of Visby Cathedral. The much larger choir and vestry were added circa 1300. The ambition was probably to rebuild the whole church into a larger, Gothic church, but for some reason only the eastern part of the church was rebuilt.{{cite book |editor1-last=Lagerlöf|editor1-first=Erland|last= Svahnström|first= Gunnar|title= Gotlands kyrkor|language=Swedish|year= 1973|publisher= Rabén & Sjögren|location= Uddevalla|isbn= 9129410355|pages=88–90}}
Few alterations have been made since the Middle Ages. During the 19th century, some windows were added and new pews installed. The church underwent a renovation in 1964–1965 following a proposal by architect Karl Erik Hjalmarson.
Of the furnishings, the triumphal cross, dating from circa 1200 is perhaps the most noteworthy, together with the richly carved baptismal font, complete with substantial traces of original colour,{{cite web|url= http://www.formonline.se/kyrkor/Alskog/|title= Dopfunt och krucifix från medeltiden i Alskogs kyrka på Gotland|last1= Albertson|first1= Lars-Olof|language= Swedish|website= formonline.se|accessdate= 12 August 2013|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130812123031/http://www.formonline.se/kyrkor/Alskog/|archive-date= 2013-08-12|url-status= dead}} from the same time. A few separate medieval sculptures also survive, originally part of a 14th-century retable. The church windows have several preserved stained glass panes from around 1300, probably when the choir was built. They depict scenes from the life of Jesus. From the time after the Reformation, the pulpit deserves mention. It was made in 1586 and is the oldest pulpit on Gotland. The church also has a pair of embroidered bags for collection of alms made in Istanbul in 1775. They were brought to the church by the priest at the Swedish legation in the city, who was the son of a pastor in Alskog Church.
The church belongs to the Church of Sweden and lies within the Diocese of Visby.{{cite web |url= https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/visbystift/telefon-och-adresslista-till-alla-vara-forsamlingar-pa-gotland|title= Telefon och adresslista till alla våra 10 pastorat på Gotland|language=Swedish|author= |date= |website= |publisher= Diocese of Visby (Church of Sweden)|access-date= 24 January 2020|quote=}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite book |last= Lagerlöf|first= Erland|date= 1968|title= Alskogs kyrka|series= Sveriges kyrkor, konsthistoriskt inventarium|language= Swedish|type= Summary in English|volume= 118|url= http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1244106/FULLTEXT01.pdf|location= Stockholm|publisher= Almqvist & Wiksell|pages= 171–240|issn=0284-1894}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Alskogs kyrka|Alskog Church}}
- [http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?id=665588 Official site (in Swedish)]
{{Churches on Gotland}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Romanesque architecture in Sweden
Category:Gothic architecture in Sweden
Category:Churches in Gotland County
Category:Churches in the Diocese of Visby
Category:Churches converted from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of Sweden