Lokrume Church ( sv, Lokrume kyrka) is a medieval church 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 ...
. The oldest parts of the church are from the 12th century. It belongs to the
Diocese of Visby
The Diocese of Visby ( sv, Visby stift) is a division of the Church of Sweden consisting of the island of Gotland. Its seat is Visby Cathedral located in the largest town on Gotland, Visby.
The Bishop of Visby is also responsible for the episcop ...
.
History and architecture
Lokrume Church has a history that goes back to at least the 12th century. The northern wall of the presently visible church
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 ...
dates from that century. Parts of the northern wall of 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 ...
also date from this church. However, later reconstructions have reshaped the church and nothing more remains of this first,
Romanesque church. During the second quarter of the 13th century, the larger part of the presently visible choir was built, with inspiration from churches in
Visby
Visby () is an urban area in Sweden and the seat of Gotland Municipality in Gotland County on the island of Gotland with 24,330 inhabitants . Visby is also the episcopal see for the Diocese of Visby. The Hanseatic city of Visby is arguably th ...
. Slightly later is the rest of the nave and the
sacristy
A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christian churches for the keeping of vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.
The sacristy is usually located ...
. The last phase of the reconstruction was during the 1270s, when an earlier Romanesque tower was replaced with the presently visible one. The rebuilt church was inaugurated in 1277.
Inside, the church is sparsely decorated by
mural
A mural is any piece of graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrate. Mural techniques include fresco, mosaic, graffiti and marouflage.
Word mural in art
The word ''mural'' is a Spani ...
s from the 1270s. During a renovation in 1957-62, fragments of 15th-century murals were also discovered under layers of whitewash, but these were too damaged to be restored. The murals in the sacristy date from the 18th century. 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 ...
is from 1707, while 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 ...
dates from the second half of the 17th century. The church furthermore has a
triumphal cross
A rood or rood cross, sometimes known as a triumphal cross, is a cross or crucifix, especially the large crucifix set above the entrance to the chancel of a medieval church.
Alternatively, it is a large sculpture or painting of the crucifixion ...
from circa 1200, and a
baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture used for baptism.
Aspersion and affusion fonts
The fonts of many Christian denominations are for baptisms using a non-immersive method, such as aspersion (sprinkling) or affusion (pouring). ...
by the artist known as
Majestatis
Majestatis ( la, Magister Majestatis Domini, ''The Master of Christ in Majesty'', usually shortened to Majestatis and sometimes referred to as the Tryde Master, fl. second half of the 12th century) was a Romanesque stone sculptor and the creator o ...
, dating from the later part of the 12th century. In the choir stands a choir bench made of parts dating from the 17th and 13th century respectively. Also in the choir is the tombstone of a judge name Gervid Lauks, dated 1380.
References
Further reading
*
External links
Official site(in Swedish)
*
{{Churches on Gotland
Churches in Gotland County
Churches in the Diocese of Visby
Churches converted from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of Sweden
Church frescos in Sweden
1277 establishments in Europe