List of churches on Gotland

Gotland began to gradually abandon Norse religion and adopt Christianity during the 11th century.[3] The first churches to be built on Gotland were wooden, built in the manner of stave churches.[1] None of these have survived intact. The most well-preserved remains, today in the Swedish History Museum, are those of Hemse stave church.[2] Traces and archaeological evidence of earlier stave churches have been discovered in ten different sites on Gotland.[3] The remains point to an artistic decoration reminiscent of Viking art.[4]

Stone churches began to replace wooden churches during the 12th century.[1] These churches were Romanesque in style, with influences coming mainly from Denmark and western German architecture,[2] but to a limited extent also from the Byzantine Empire.[4] Importantly, the construction of Lund Cathedral in Scania established a source of influences in the relative vicinity. Likewise, the 1164 establishment of the Cistercian monastery of Roma Abbey on Gotland led to strong Cistercian influences in the following period of church construction. These Romanesque churches were sometimes decorated internally with frescos. Here also, the influences came most often from the west and south, but sometimes also from Russia. Similarly, the churches were adorned with stone sculpture, notably decorated baptismal fonts. Here, too, influences came from both the west and the east,[2] but the sculptors themselves seem to have been native Gotlanders.[4] Finally, such churches also occasionally display wooden sculptures, such as triumphal crosses. These display a more markedly uniform western style, with influences coming from France or western Germany.[2]

During the Gothic era, the church portals were often decorated with sculptures, such as these at Martebo Church

During the 13th century, reconstruction works were started on several of these earlier churches. New churches were also commissioned. Gotland was enjoying a period of prosperity thanks to increasing trade, and, possibly, due to its role as a staging area for crusaders departing for the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.[3] The churches were made larger and more elaborate. The style began to shift in favour of the Gothic, although few churches on Gotland display a pronounced Gothic style. The most elaborate parts of these churches are often the portals, notably the main southern portals.[2] The towers of these churches are also taller and more elaborate than earlier towers (which were often designed with a dual, defensive purpose). Another typical feature is the square choir that lacks an apse and instead has a straight eastern wall with three windows.[4] Internally, frescos and wooden sculpture continued to enjoy popularity, as well as stained glass windows; the churches of Gotland still has the largest collection of Medieval stained glass in Sweden. Artistic influences came via Visby from mainly western Germany. At the end of this period, Gotland entered a period of economic decline. Following the Black Death, the invasion of Gotland by Valdemar IV of Denmark and the Battle of Visby (1361), and a general decrease in trade, many churches were left unfinished. Hence, several churches on Gotland display a peculiar form, where the choir is in Gothic style and disproportionally large in comparison with the rest of the otherwise Romanesque church. In such cases, reconstruction of the church had started with the choir but was brought to a halt before the whole reconstruction scheme could be finished.[2]

From about 1400, no new churches were erected and the general religious building activity decreases sharply. Internally, some churches receive further embellishment in the form of new altarpieces or frescos during the 15th and 16th century. Following the Reformation, a new type of altarpieces and pulpits were introduced.[2] These post-Reformation furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries are also well represented in the churches of Gotland.[1]

The church building activity on Gotland thus took place in the period of approximately 250 years, from c. 1100 to 1350. Until the early 13th century, the pace of church building was comparable to the rest of Scandinavia. From then on, both the number and size of new churches increased significantly, until building activity came to a complete halt at the end of the Middle Ages.[3]

Only a few of the church buildings on Gotland have been significantly altered since the end of the Middle Ages,[1] which is unusual in a European context, since medieval churches were often heavily reconstructed or renovated during the 19th century. The medieval parish churches of Gotland comprise the most well-preserved set of such churches in Sweden,[3] and indeed in the whole Baltic region.[5]

During the 20th century, a small number of new churches have been built, notably in Visby.

The vast majority of the churches on Gotland belongs to the Lutheran Church of Sweden, and the Diocese of Visby.

Note: Unless specified otherwise, the churches on Gotland are named after their locality, i.e. Kräklingbo Church is to be found in Kräklingbo settlement.

A

Name	Main construction period	Coordinates	Image	Notes	References
Akebäck Church	1149	57°32′50″N 18°23′32″E			[6]
Ala Church	12th to mid-13th century	57°25′08″N 18°38′07″E			[7]
Alskog Church	13th century to circa 1300	57°19′53″N 18°37′37″E			[2]
Alva Church	12th century	57°12′27″N 18°21′41″E			[8]
Anga Church	13th century	57°28′49″N 18°42′23″E			[3]
Ardre Church	c. 1200 to c. 1250	57°22′46″N 18°41′48″E			[2]
Atlingbo Church	13th century	57°28′47″N 18°23′26″E			[9]

B-D

Name	Main construction period	Coordinates	Image	Notes	References
Barlingbo Church	c. 1225 to c. 1280	57°33′52″N 18°27′47″E			[2]
Björke Church	Mid-13th century to mid-14th century	57°30′26″N 18°25′16″E			[10]
Boge Church	13th century	57°41′13″N 18°45′46″E
Bro Church	c. 1240 to c. 1300	57°40′12″N 18°28′29″E			[3]
Bunge Church	Early 14th century	57°51′13″N 19°01′24″E			[3]
Burs Church	13th century	57°14′44″N 18°30′31″E
Buttle Church	12th century	57°24′09″N 18°31′48″E
Bäl Church	13th century	57°38′41″N 18°37′58″E
Dalhem Church	13th century	57°33′08″N 18°32′02″E		Heavily restored 1899-1914	[3]

E–F

Name	Main construction period	Coordinates	Image	Notes	References
Eke Church	13th century	57°10′04″N 18°22′45″E
Ekeby Church	13th century	57°35′44″N 18°30′52″E
Eksta Church	13th century	57°17′11″N 18°12′23″E
Endre Church	12th century	57°36′36″N 18°27′55″E
Eskelhem Church	c. 1200 to mid-14th century	57°29′22″N 18°12′35″E			[3]
Etelhem Church	1300	57°20′14″N 18°29′45″E
Fardhem Church	c. 1170 to c. 1260	57°15′20″N 18°20′29″E			[3]
Fide Church	13th century	57°04′25″N 18°18′58″E
Fleringe Church	13th century	57°52′10″N 18°52′37″E
Fole Church	Inaugurated 1280	57°39′02″N 18°32′41″E			[2]
Follingbo Church	13th century	57°34′56″N 18°23′0″E
Fröjel Church	12th century to 14th century	57°20′08″N 18°11′23″E			[4]
Fårö Church	14th century	57°54′56″N 19°08′0″E		Film-maker Ingmar Bergman is buried in the church cemetery

G

Name	Main construction period	Coordinates	Image	Notes	References
Gammelgarn Church	14th century	57°24′16″N 18°48′16″E		Defensive tower from the 12th century adjacent (pictured)	[4]
Ganthem Church	Late 12th century ti mid-13th century	57°30′57″N 18°34′54″E			[2]
Garde Church	c. 1130 to c. 1310	57°19′01″N 18°34′55″E			[3]
Gerum Church	c. 1200 to c. 1300	57°17′40″N 18°19′46″E			[11]
Gnisvärd Chapel	1839	57°30′26″N 18°06′44″E			[12]
Gothem Church	13th to early 14th century	57°34′31″N 18°44′06″E			[3]
Grötlingbo Church	First half of the 13th to mid-14th century	57°08′01″N 18°20′47″E			[3]
Gotska Sandön Chapel		58°23′19.3″N 19°11′47.5″E
Guldrupe Church	Late 12th century	57°25′49″N 18°25′35″E			[13]

H-K

Name	Main construction period	Coordinates	Image	Notes	References
Hablingbo Church	Late 12th century to c. 1320	57°11′14″N 18°15′45″E			[3]
Hall Church	Second quarter of the 13th century	57°53′31″N 18°42′57″E			[2]
Halla Church	c. 1200 to the 14th century	57°30′39″N 18°29′50″E			[2]
Hallshuk Chapel		57.9250°N 18.7424°E / 57.9250; 18.7424 (Hallshuk Chapel)
Hamra Church	Mid-13th century to early 14th century	56°58′33″N 18°18′48″E			[3]
Hangvar Church	13th century	57°50′21″N 18°41′18″E			[2]
Havdhem Church	First half of 12th century to mid-13th century	57°09′45″N 18°19′23″E			[2]
Hejde Church	Mid-13th century to mid-14th century	57°24′46″N 18°20′45″E			[14]
Hejdeby Church	13th century	57°37′49″N 18°26′34″E			[4]
Hejnum Church	Early to mid-13th century	57°40′48″N 18°37′55″E			[15]
Hellvi Church	13th century	57°46′30″N 18°53′42″E
Hemse Church	13th century	57°13′58″N 18°22′22″E		Original location of Hemse stave church
Hogrän Church	13th century	57°30′16″N 18°18′28″E
Hörsne Church	13th century	57°33′30″N 18°35′50″E
Klinte Church	13th century	57°22′42″N 18°13′55″E
Kovik Chapel	1963	57°24′33″N 18°09′53″E
Kräklingbo Church	13th century	57°26′42″N 18°42′40″E
Källunge Church	12th to 14th century	57°36′28″N 18°35′04″E			[3]

L-M

Name	Main construction period	Coordinates	Image	Notes	References
Lau Church	Mid-13th century to c. 1300	57°16′58″N 18°37′12″E			[3]
Levide Church	Late 12th century to mid-13th century	57°16′55″N 18°15′59″E			[2]
Linde Church	End of the 12th century to early 13th century	57°16′46″N 18°22′47″E			[2]
Lojsta Church	13th century	57°18′46″N 18°23′02″E
Lokrume Church	Inaugurated 1277	57°41′16″N 18°32′19″E			[2]
Lummelunda Church	13th century	57°46′11″N 18°27′19″E
Lye Church	12th to 14th century	57°17′52″N 18°31′34″E		Contains the best-preserved set of medieval stained glass windows in the Nordic countries	[3]
Lärbro Church	Finished c. 1340	57°47′13″N 18°47′37″E		Defensive tower from the 12th century adjacent (pictured)	[3]
Martebo Church	Mid-13th century to c. 1310	57°44′55″N 18°29′31″E			[3]
Mästerby Church	c. 1200 to mid-14th century	57°28′11″N 18°18′14″E			[3]

N-R

Name	Main construction period	Coordinates	Image	Notes	References
Norrlanda Church	13th century	57°30′05″N 18°39′34″E
När Church	13th century	57°15′26″N 18°37′30″E
Näs Church	Mid-13th century	57°06′36″N 18°15′44″E			[2]
Othem Church	Mid-13th century	57°44′50″N 18°44′19″E			[3]
Pentecostal Church of Visby	1988	57°37′39″N 18°18′09″E		Belonging to the Pentecostal Church
Roma Church	13th century	57°31′42″N 18°26′31″E		Not to be confused with the ruined Roma Abbey nearby	[3]
Rone Church	13th century	57°12′32″N 18°26′28″E
Rute Church	13th century	57°50′01″N 18°55′24″E

S-T

Name	Main construction period	Coordinates	Image	Notes	References
Sanda Church	Mid-13th century to mid-14th century	57°25′45″N 18°13′24″E			[16]
Silte Church	Mid- to late 13th century	57°13′15″N 18°14′12″E			[2]
Sjonhem Church	13th century	57°29′08″N 18°31′14″E			[16]
Slite Church	1960	57°42′26″N 18°47′45″E
Sproge Church	First half of the 13th century	57°15′13″N 18°12′39″E			[2]
Stenkumla Church	Early 13th century to early 14th century	57°32′51″N 18°16′06″E			[16]
Stenkyrka Church	Inaugurated 1255	57°29′28″N 18°31′14″E			[3]
Stånga Church	Mid-13th century to mid-14th century	57°16′59″N 18°27′57″E
Sundre Church	13th century	56°56′09″N 18°10′54″E		Defensive tower adjacent (pictured)	[3]
Terra Nova Church		57°36′48.26″N 18°18′41.47″E
Tingstäde Church	First half of the 13th to the early 14th century	57°44′10″N 18°36′53″E			[3]
Tofta Church	13th century	57°31′17″N 18°10′07″E
Träkumla Church	Inaugurated 1287	57°33′37″N 18°18′46″E			[17]

V-Ö

Name	Main construction period	Coordinates	Image	Notes	References
Vall Church	13th century	57°31′14″N 18°20′42″E			[2]
Vallstena Church	Early 13th century to c. 1300	57°36′35″N 18°38′12″E			[16]
Vamlingbo Church	Mid-13th century to c. 1320	56°58′10″N 18°13′49″E			[3]
Vibble Chapel		57°36′02.3″N 18°14′59.3″E
Viklau Church	12th century	57°27′56″N 18°27′23″E		One of Sweden's most well-known medieval sculptures, the Viklau Madonna, originally belonged to the church (now in the Swedish History Museum)
Visborg Church	1969	57°37′28″N 18°17′06″E
Visby Cathedral	Inaugurated 1225	57°38′30″N 18°17′51″E		Officially Visby St. Mary's Cathedral (Swedish: Visby S:ta Maria domkyrka)	[18]
Visby Catholic Church	1982	57°38′31″N 18°17′43″E		Belonging to the Catholic Church; officially the Church of the Body of Christ	[19]
Vårdklockan Church	1875	57°38′18″N 18°17′44″E		Belonging to the Uniting Church in Sweden	[20]
Vänge Church	c. 1200 to late 13th century	57°27′07″N 18°30′41″E			[16]
Väskinde Church	c. 1250 to c. 1280	57°41′26″N 18°25′22″E			[16]
Västergarn Church	Mid-13th century	57°26′27″N 18°09′03″E			[16]
Västerhejde Church	13th century	57°34′50″N 18°14′53″E			[16]
Väte Church	14th century	57°26′56″N 18°21′50″E			[21]
Öja Church	First half of 13th century to mid-14th century	57°02′07″N 18°18′0″E		Houses a famous Gothic triumphal cross (pictured):
Östergarn Church	13th century	57°25′18″N 18°51′31″E

• Media related to Churches in Gotland at Wikimedia Commons
• Swedish National Heritage Board. "Sveriges kyrkor". Searchable, digitised versions of several of the volumes in the "Sveriges kyrkor" ("The churches of Sweden") series (in Swedish).
• Björklund, Ivar (2007). "Gotlands alla kyrkor [All the churches of Gotland]" (in Swedish). Retrieved 11 October 2014. Pictures of churches, church ruins and several baptismal fonts in the churches of Gotland
• "Gotlands kyrkor - Churches of Gotland". 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014. Panoramic views of the exterior and interior of the medieval churches of Gotland