Lummelunda Church ( sv, Lummelunda kyrka) is a medieval church in
Lummelunda 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 were built circa 1200, and the last major alterations made in the 14th century when a new choir was built. It belongs to the
Diocese of Visby.
History and architecture
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 ...
and tower are the oldest parts of the church in Lummelunda. They were both erected circa 1200. Originally, a
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 ...
built at the same time formed part of the church. This choir was razed in the middle of the 14th century, and the presently, disproportionately large choir was built instead. The rebuilding of the choir was intended as the beginning of a complete reconstruction scheme, but only the choir was executed.
The church has remained largely unaltered since then. 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 ...
is of unknown date, mentioned for the first time in 1739, and the church spire dates from 1636.
During the 17th century, new windows were added to the nave, it received new furnishings and was re-decorated inside.
The windows were again altered during the 19th century.
[ A renovation was carried out in 1960-61.]Gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
choir and the much smaller Romanesque nave and tower. It is built in limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
.[ The main, southern portal is decorated with stone sculptures similar to those of ]Martebo Church
Martebo Church ( sv, Martebo kyrka) is a medieval church on the Swedish island of Gotland. Its three portals contain some of the richest medieval sculpture on the island. Martebo Church lies in the Diocese of Visby.
History
Little is known about ...
, but somewhat cruder in execution. Inside, the church is decorated with 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. Of these, some date from the construction period of the church, some from the 15th century and some from the 17th century. The church houses a single, rather worn late medieval wooden sculpture depicting Saint Anthony. Most other furnishings are from the 17th century.
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
{{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