Björke Church ( sv, Björke kyrka) is a medieval church in Björke on the Swedish island of

Gotland Gotland (, ; ''Gutland'' in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is Sweden's largest island. It is also a province, county, municipality, and diocese. The province includes the islands of Fårö and Gotska Sandön to the ...

, in the Diocese of Visby. The

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

is the oldest part of Björke Church, dating from the mid-13th century. The

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...

dates from the middle of the 14th century and replaced an earlier choir, half the size of the present one. A church tower was planned but never built. The sacristy is the last part to be added the church; it dates from 1860. Internally, the church ceiling is supported by six vaults – two in the choir and four, resting on a central column, in the nave. Among the furnishings, the

crucifix A crucifix (from Latin ''cruci fixus'' meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is a cross with an image of Jesus on it, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the ''corpus'' (Lati ...

dates from 1160 and the

pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, access ...

from 1594; it is one of the oldest on Gotland. Of later date are the

altarpiece An altarpiece is an artwork such as a painting, sculpture or relief representing a religious subject made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. Though most commonly used for a single work of art such as a painting o ...

(1911) and the

votive ship A votive ship, sometimes called a church ship, is a ship model displayed in a church. As a rule, votive ships are constructed and given as gifts to the church by seamen and ship builders. Votive ships are relatively common in churches in the Nordi ...

, donated to the church in 2004. The church underwent a renovation in 1910–12. Björke Church belongs to the Church of Sweden and lies within the Diocese of Visby.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorke Church Gothic architecture in Sweden Churches in Gotland County Churches in the Diocese of Visby Churches converted from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of Sweden