Börje Church

Uppsala, Sweden

The Christian church at Börje was probably preceded by a Norse religious site, perhaps a spring or a grove. The main parts of presently visible church (nave, choir and sacristy) were probably erected between 1310 and 1360, and built by the local community. The main models for the new church were Uppsala Cathedral and the Holy Trinity Church, also in Uppsala. The church porch was added before the middle of the 15th century. It received internal brick vaulting circa 1430-60. In the 1730s, the church windows were enlarged and the church whitewashed internally. Additional changes were made in 1796-97, and again in 1840-57. Renovations have been carried out in 1911-12, 1951, 1953 and 1959. During the 1953 renovation, medieval frescos were uncovered and restored.

The main construction material of the church is fieldstone, with brick used for the windows and portal openings. The roof is made of shake. Internally, the vaults of the church are decorated with frescos. They date from the late 15th or early 16th century. They belong to a group of church frescos made by the so-called Tierp school; other frescos by this group of artists can be found for example in Roslags-Bro and Sånga Church. The frescos in Börje Church are unusually well preserved.

The church houses a number of noteworthy items. The main altarpiece dates from the 1840s, but preserved in the church is also the original, medieval carved wooden altarpiece of the church. It was made in Uppsala, probably at the end of the 15th century, and depicts the Last Judgement and figures of saints. The baptismal font was made on Gotland and dates from the 13th or 14th century. The church also has a processional cross from the 14th century and a thurible made of bronze, dating from the 13th century. There is also an iron candlestick from the 16th century. The pews and pulpit are later, dating from the 17th century.

There is a runestone immured in the church cemetery wall.

Adjacent to the church lies the well-preserved former parsonage, with a main building erected 1785.

References:

Comments

Your name



Address

Uppsala, Sweden
See all sites in Uppsala

Details

Founded: 1310-1360
Category: Religious sites in Sweden
Historical period: Consolidation (Sweden)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Simon Babol (4 years ago)
It was a very nice experience ???
Gunilla Leffler (4 years ago)
It was open when I drove by. Beautiful!
Eric A.L. Axner (5 years ago)
A charming church rather beautifully located.
Tiit Palu (6 years ago)
A small village and a nice church.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.