Skepptuna Church ( sv, Skepptuna kyrka) is a medieval
Lutheran
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...
church in the
Archdiocese of Uppsala
The Archdiocese of Uppsala ( sv, Uppsala ärkestift) is one of the thirteen dioceses of the Church of Sweden and the only one having the status of an archdiocese.
Lutheran archdiocese
Uppsala is the seat of the Lutheran Archbishop of Uppsala. Th ...
in
Stockholm County,
Sweden.
History
There is evidence in the form of a
runestone
A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century, but most of the runestones d ...
(rune inscription
U 358) that there have been
Christian people in the area since at least the early 11th century. The oldest part of the church however dates from the early 13th century. It was continuously expanded throughout the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
and received its present look during the 15th century. In 1776, the tower spire was found to have started to rot and was exchanged for the present one. Since then the church has remained largely unaltered.
A renovation of the church was carried out in 1907, when a number of
frescos were also rediscovered and restored.
Architecture
The church is built of roughly hewn stone blocks, with additions made by
brick. The most noteworthy part of the exterior is the fine
Brick Gothic tower, probably inspired by the nearby
Uppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral ( sv, Uppsala domkyrka) is a cathedral located between the University Hall of Uppsala University and the Fyris river in the centre of Uppsala, Sweden. A church of the Church of Sweden, the national church, in the Lutheran t ...
, which was at the time of the construction of Skepptuna Church's relatively new tower (c. 1400 – 1450).
[
Inside, the church is whitewashed save for a few fragments of medieval frescos. The church's altarpiece is a ]Northern Renaissance
The Northern Renaissance was the Renaissance that occurred in Europe north of the Alps. From the last years of the 15th century, its Renaissance spread around Europe. Called the Northern Renaissance because it occurred north of the Italian Renais ...
piece, made in the atelier
An atelier () is the private workshop or studio of a professional artist in the fine or decorative arts or an architect, where a principal master and a number of assistants, students, and apprentices can work together producing fine art or ...
of Flemish sculptor Jan Borman (c. 1479-1520).[ A medieval wooden sculpture depicting ]Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), was an English nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then ...
, made in the atelier of Bernt Notke
Bernt Notke (; – before May 1509) was a late Gothic artist, working in the Baltic region. He has been described as one of the foremost artists of his time in northern Europe.
Life
Very little is known about the life of Bernt Notke. The No ...
(c. 1440-1509), formerly also belonged to the church but is today on display at the Swedish History Museum.
Gallery
Skepptuna kyrka int08.jpg, Pulpit
Skepptuna kyrka int05.jpg, Baptismal font
Skepptuna kyrka int07.jpg, Lime painting on the north corridor wall
Skepptuna kyrka int09.jpg, Organ
Skepptuna kyrka int10.jpg, Portal
References
External links
*
Official site (in Swedish)
{{Churches in Uppland
Buildings and structures in Stockholm County
Church frescos in Sweden
13th-century churches in Sweden
Churches in the Diocese of Uppsala
Churches converted from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of Sweden