Skäfthammar Church

Skäfthammar's church is a church building that belongs to Skäfthammar-Höhuvud parish in Uppsala diocese. The church is located on the outskirts of the community Gimo.

Skäfthammar's church
Skäfthammars kyrka
Skäfthammar's church in 2020
Skäfthammar's church Skäfthammar's church
60°10′21″N 18°11′41″E
Location	Kyrkvägen 6, 747 42 Gimo
Country	Sweden
Language(s)	Swedish
Denomination	Church of Sweden
History
Founded	1400s
Architecture
Completed	1400s
Specifications
Materials	Greystone and brick
21320000039536

Building

The church has a well-preserved medieval exterior and consists of a rectangular Longhouse with a straight-ended choir to the east. On the north-east side there is an extended sacristy and on the south-west side an extended armoury. The walls are of greystone, with brick only in window and portal extents. The armory is plastered and whitewashed. The church's Longhouse has round-arched windows and is covered by a chipboard roof gable roof. The church room is accessed via the armory in the south. According to medieval tradition, the northern long wall lacks window openings.

Additions and alterations

In 1316, archbishop Olof Björnsson visited a church in Skäfthammar which was probably a small wooden church. The current church was probably built in the second half of the 15th century. It is possible that the barrel vault sacristy may have belonged to an earlier church and was built sometime in the years 1250–1350. The brick vaults of the church room are probably the same age as the church. The Armory may have been added somewhat later. At the dedication of the church, the church room was provided with twelve consecration crosses and eight of these remain on the walls. Walls and vaults have abundant lime paintings that were probably added at the end of the 16th century. The paintings have biblical figure scenes and lack depictions of saints. In the years 1682 and 1683, side stands were built along the north wall to accommodate the wallonsmiths from Gimo manor house and their wives. During the first half of the 18th century, a brick floor was laid in the church room. Around the middle of the same century, the church windows were enlarged. At the same time, the current pulpit and altar essay were added. The wall and vault paintings were whitewashed during the 18th century. During a restoration in 1915 under the direction of Sigurd Curman. Vitterhet's history and antiquities academy in collaboration with the book publisher Atlantis the chancel window was bricked up again and the original colors of the interior were restored. In 1965, a restoration was carried out under the direction of conservator Sven Carlsson. The church room did not undergo any changes.

Gallery

• 
  Kyrkorum towards the west
• 
  Pulpit
• 
  Baptismal font
• 
  The belfry northwest of the church
• 
  The church from the west
• 
  The church from the southeast

References

• Skäfthammer church, Ragnar Stenberg, Uppland's churches, Stiftsrådet i Uppsala, 1950, SELIBR 1667538 ; 36 * Guide to the churches in Uppsala län, pages 135 - 136, Karin Blent (editor), County Board of Uppsala län 1997, ISBN 91-85618-54-3 * Our churches, page 32, Klarkullens förlag, Västervik, 1990, ISBN 91-971561-0-8

Web sources

• Upplandia.se - A site about Uppland
• The congregation's information about the church

External links

• Hökhuvud's pastorate