Stånga Church

Stånga Church (Swedish: Stånga kyrka) is a medieval church in Stånga on the Swedish island of Gotland. The church was built during the 12th and 13th centuries, and has an unusual group of sculptures on its southern facade. It belongs to the Church of Sweden and lies in the Diocese of Visby.

Stånga Church
Stånga kyrka
Stånga Church, view of the exterior
Stånga Church
Location on Gotland
57°16′59″N 18°27′57″E
CountrySweden
DenominationChurch of Sweden
Administration
DioceseVisby

History
The southern portal of Stånga Church and adjacent immured sculptures

Archaeological excavations show that a wooden church was built on the site during the early 12th century at the latest.[1] The baptismal font of the church probably comes from this first church. It has been attributed to the master sculptor known as Hegvald and dates from the late 12th century.[2]

The presently visible church mainly dates from the 14th century, and is a work by the stonemasons' workshop sometimes referred to by the notname Egypticus. Only the choir is older, dating from the late 12th century or early 13th but rebuilt in the 1860s.[2]

The church underwent a restoration in 1962-63.[2]

Architecture

The exterior of the church displays one of the most unusual pieces of Gothic decoration on Gotland in and adjacent to the southern portal. The portal itself is richly decorated with sculptures depicting the childhood of Christ, the coronation of the Virgin and Christ in Majesty. Next to the portal are further sculptures immured in the church wall, seemingly at random. They depict the adoration of the Magi, the flagellation of Christ and Christ being removed from the cross. Probably, these sculptures were originally intended for an even grander, western portal which was never built.[1][2]

The church tower is one of the highest on Gotland.[2]

Inside, the church is dominated by a single, large central column. The church's triumphal cross is mainly a work from the 13th century. The altarpiece dates from 1690, while the pulpit is from 1723.[2]

References
  1. Andrén, Anders (2011). Det Medeltida Gotland. En arkeologisk guidebok (in Swedish). Lund: Historiska Media. pp. 203–206. ISBN 978-91-85873-83-8.
  2. Lagerlöf, Erland (1973). Lagerlöf, Erland (ed.). Gotlands kyrkor (in Swedish). Uddevalla: Rabén & Sjögren. pp. 245–248. ISBN 9129410355.

Further reading
  • Lagerlöf, Erland; Stolt, Bengt (1968). Stånga kyrka (PDF). Sveriges kyrkor, konsthistoriskt inventarium (in Swedish and English). 125. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell. pp. 89–165. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
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