Lemu Church, Masku, Finland

The mediaeval greystone church is dedicated to St. Olav and was built in the 1450's. Long ago, Lemu was part of the great Nousiainen ancient parish, but parted to an independent administrative and ecclesiastical parish in the Middle Ages. When an episcopal church was erected in the old mother parish, a sanctuary consecrated to St. Olav was built also in Lemu.

First, a small wooden chapel was raised on Toijainen hill probably in the 13th century. An old crucifix and a baptismal font in the present church date back to those times. In the 14th century a small stone chapel was built and it now serves as the sacristy. In the 1430's an imposing mediaeval stone church was erected, partly by the wealth of the noblemen, partly by the toil of the peasants.

There are several curiosities in the church, such as - the only one of its kind in Finnish churches - the coat of arms of Mauno Särkilahti (Stjernkors), a painting of Martin Luther, an old Bible and a note of Marshal Mannerheim’s participation in confirmation. The years 1380, 1450 and 1959 are marked in the church banner. The altarpiece ”The Resurrection” by von Becker dates back to the year 1880.

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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.

Aku Ketola (2 years ago)
Very pretty

H (4 years ago)
Beautiful and high church, a pity that was caught.

Markku Jäntti (4 years ago)
A gray stone church consecrated to St. Olaf. According to Markus Hiekkanen, it was built quite certainly between 1460 and 1480.

Seppo Uotila (4 years ago)
Very beautiful stone church

Elina Soini (4 years ago)

Lemu Church

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Visby Cathedral