Västerhejde Church ( sv, Västerhejde kyrka) is a medieval church in
Västerhejde
Västerhejde is a locality on the Swedish island of Gotland.
Västerhejde is also the name of the larger populated area, socken (not to be confused with parish). It comprises the same area as the administrative Västerhejde District, established ...
on the 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 ...
, Sweden. Dating from the 13th century, it was somewhat altered during the 19th century. It belongs to the
Diocese of Visby.
History and architecture
The church was built in
Romanesque style during the 13th century, but underwent some changes during the 19th century. The southern portal was then removed, and the spire of the tower changed from its original, pointed design to its presently visible
crow-stepped design, traditionally not found on churches of Gotland. 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 ...
,
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 ...
and
pew
A pew () is a long bench (furniture), bench seat or enclosed box, used for seating Member (local church), members of a Church (congregation), congregation or choir in a Church (building), church, synagogue or sometimes a courtroom.
Overview
...
s date from the 17th century. An
oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments with a medium of drying oil as the binder. It has been the most common technique for artistic painting on wood panel or canvas for several centuries, spreading from Europe to the rest of ...
by
Fredric Westin
Fredric Westin (22 September 1782, in Stockholm – 13 May 1862, in Stockholm) was a Swedish history and portrait painter.
Biography
He studied with Lorens Pasch the Younger and Louis Masreliez at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts.[Princess Eugenie of Sweden and Norway
Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince.
Princess as a subst ...]
, who spent several summers in the countryside near the church.
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vasterhejde Church
Churches in Gotland County
Churches in the Diocese of Visby
Churches converted from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of Sweden