Eke Church, Havdhem, Sweden

The current Eke Church with its Romanesque nave and Gothic tower was predated by a stave church on the same location, fragments of which was found under the floor of the presently visible church in 1916. The stave church had been decorated with paintings in Byzantine style. The oldest part of the current building is the nave and choir, dating from the mid-13th century. The disproportionally massive tower was added in c. 1300. Later additions to the church include the vestry (19th century), and the enlargement of all original windows save one. The church is dominated by the massive tower. The tower has a Gothic portal while the nave has Romanesque portals, decorated with alternating red limestone and sandstone. The church was renovated in 1916 and 1969-1971.

Eke church is richly decorated with medieval frescos. The oldest (13th century) are found in the choir and depict imaginary animals, geometrical ornaments and foliage. The other frescos are from the middle of the 15th century and depict scenes from the Passion of Christ as well as other stories from the bible.

Among the church furnishings, the baptismal font by Master Sigraf, dating from the 12th century, deserves mention like a wooden Madonna from about 1500. The pews and the pulpit are from the 18th century.

References:

Wikipedia

Visby Cathedral

Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

Nahoj Grebdron (3 years ago)
underestimated.

Hugo Fridarve (3 years ago)
I will get married here sometime

Ice Dizzy (3 years ago)
Nice church with a nice little table to have coffee at in the shade of the trees. If you want to work out a little, there is an outdoor gym next door.

Hemmet Hemma (3 years ago)
Good coffee place next to the church for brought coffee baskets. An outdoor gym is also available.

Olof Tyrsén (5 years ago)
A nice high fair

Eke Church

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