Träkumla Church ( sv, Träkumla 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 ...

, in the Baltic Sea. The church retains some murals and furnishings from the Middle Ages. It belongs to the Diocese of Visby.

History and architecture

The presently visible, stone church was preceded by a wooden church on the same spot. The oldest part of the now visible church at Träkumla is the rectangular choir, which was built at the middle of the 13th century. The nave was added slightly later. The church was intended to have a tower; thick walls at the western end of the nave indicate that preparations were made for the erection of a tower, but it was never executed. The presently visible wooden spire dates instead from 1917. An inscription above the main portal, now lost, stated that the church was inaugurated on 1 September 1287. The church was abandoned in 1868 but restored in 1917. In 1951, it underwent another renovation. Inside, the church is decorated with murals made by the

Master of the Passion of Christ The Passion Master ( sv, Passionsmästaren) is the name used to refer to an anonymous fresco painter and his workshop, active on Gotland during the 15th century. Works in about fifty churches have been attributed to the artist. The style of the M ...

in mid-15th century. They depict scenes from the legend about Saint Olaf. The church houses a number of medieval items. The

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). ...

is from the 12th century and probably belonged to the first, wooden church. There is also 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 ...

, a processional cross and a

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...

, all from the 15th century, as well as a few

stained glass Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...

window panes dating from the 13th century. The wooden door is furthermore medieval. 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 ...

was assembled in the 17th century and is made of pieces from several earlier, medieval altarpieces. 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 17th century.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Trakumla Church Churches in Gotland County Churches in the Diocese of Visby Churches converted from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of Sweden 1287 establishments in Europe

History and architecture

References

Further reading

External links