(Tuesday 6 August, continued)
Seglora Church, Västergötland, Sweden
Not very far from Rydal (previous post), in an agricultural area named Seglora, this impressive church can be seen from far across the surrounding fields. It is not really a cathedral (i.e. not the seat of a bishop) - but it does look more like it would belong in a big city rather than out in the countryside. It was built in 1903 and originally had no less than 800 seats. In connection with a renovation in 1967, that was reduced to 480 - but that is still a lot for a countryside church.
Before this church was built, there had been three wooden churches on the same spot. The first one was destroyed in a fire back in the 1500s. Another wooden church was built to replace it in the 1600s. In 1729, a third wooden church was built - but that one soon became too small, so that already in the 1860s they began to discuss building a larger one - resulting in the decision in 1901 to build this very impressive one, finished in 1903.
Seglora Church at Skansen, Stockholm
After the new church had been built in Seglora, the wooden church from 1729 was moved (1916-18) to the open air museum Skansen in Stockholm , where it is still popular, and used for weddings and concerts etc. (And I'm mentioning this because that one is a lot more famous than the big one above.)
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| Seglora Old Church at Skansen, Stockholm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seglora |
To increase our impression of the extremely rural location for this huge church, close to where we had parked the car, there were sheep grazing... The blackheaded one "baah-haa"-ed at us, so we went over to say hello to them before we left.
"The grass always looks greener on the other side..."
And those are the last photos from my August holiday week with my brother.
After lunch the next day, he left and drove back home to Karlstad.
What a great impressive church. The congregation obviously had many people in it when it was built originally, but wisely sent the wooden one to be a historic site for others to enjoy. After all, what do you do with the deconstructed old church after building the stone one? I wonder how many attend services at the big beautiful one these days.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I was wondering the same thing. Alas it also wasn't open for visitors so we couldn't have a look inside. I can imagine this church too being popular for weddings etc, though. (Very few couples likely to be able to invite hundreds of guests, though...)
DeleteI suppose all re-usable material such as heavy, sturdy beams, window frames, doors, glass from the windows and so on would have been used in other buildings, churches or not.
DeleteFor instance, "my" Irish pub here in Ludwigsburg contains the original hand-carved wooden pews of a small chapel that was disused somewhere in Ireland. They make a beautiful ornamental row of benches at the pub's back wall.
The sheep are amazing. and that old church, it is, too. SO old it's a wonder it did not fall apart when they moved it! I would love to see inside, but I'm sure they would not let you.
ReplyDeleteGinny, as for the old church at Skansen, there are some photos of the interior at their website, here
DeleteThe "new" church reminds me a little of a mi¡xture of Victorian and Russian architecture - without the ""onion" domes.
ReplyDeleteMany deconsecrated churches in the UK are re-purposed into Community halls and some are bought by members of the public and turned into private homes. These have occasionally been the subject of those endless "make-over" TV programmes!
Carol, that happens here, too. Bigger churches are probably rarely suited to be turned into private homes, but it's not uncommon with old "free church" chapels which are usually smaller (and without towers). - From the UK I've seen several examples of such conversions on TV, like in 'Escape to the Country'.
DeleteAn interesting history. As for hundreds of guests, here in Germany, many couples where one or both of the soon-to-be newlyweds are from countries such as Italy, Greece, Turkey and others, HUGE weddings are popular. Personally, I prefer a smaller party so that everyone has a chance to talk to the couple, and vice versa, but I remember from my time as part of a Sicilian family that it was a question of prestige in the home village and VERY important to have a big wedding. Families would go into heavy debt for many years just for that one day. Stupid in my opinion, but part of their culture and tradition.
ReplyDeleteMeike, it may be prejudice on my part, but my guess is that here we don't have quite as many immigrants with that tradition, who also want the ceremony to take place in the Church of Sweden. (And I think at least one out of the two in the couple usually needs to be a member.)
DeleteWeird... I thought I'd posted a comment other than the reply above, about big weddings... Maybe it has gone to spam?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I forgot to say that you and your brother had a good time together by the looks of it. Did he not want to stay for your birthday, or is that simply not something you two do?
DeleteMeike, one of your comments did go to spam but has been retrieved. (I usually get the email even when Blogger for some unfathomable reason decides to regard the comment as spam.) - As for my brother's visit, the beginning of August suited us both, and we've never been all that particular about celebrating birthdays on the exact day (except, of course, from back in childhood when we lived under the same roof).
Deletethis has been a fun trip, and I have enjoyed all the photos and info. this church really does look like a cathedral and is beautiful. I prefer the old wooden church, size and looks.. I have seen sheep like the white one and petted them, but not the black headed one
ReplyDeleteSandra, my brother petted them both through the fence :)
DeleteIts situated in a lovely scenic area though, I can definitely see the Scandinavian influence in the building.
ReplyDeleteAmy, it certainly does have a very scenic setting. That in itself is not unusual for old countryside churches here (as they often served several surrounding hamlets). Few of them are this big, though!
DeleteWhat a magnificent church, it really looks like it deserves to be a cathedral. Shame you didn't get to go inside. I don't think I've ever seen a black headed sheep like that one.
ReplyDeletePauline, I would have loved a look inside, but I also understand that they can't keep all churches open for occasional tourists all the time...
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