Under the floor lie the fundaments of a little Romanesque church, the
chancel of which about 1200 was replaced by the present, which has a very
unusual square apse. The construction of the church then proceeded westward
and was completed with the huge tower at the end of the 13th century. At
that time the vaults were decorated with rich ornamental paintings. Famous
are the magnificent stained glass windows, especially those in the chancel
from about 1230-40. The remarkable baptismal font is said to be the finest
work of art from the Romanesque era in Sweden; the master seems to have
learnt his art as well in England as in Lund. In high relief between the
Evangelist symbols are seen the archangel Gabriel, the Virgin, Joachim and
Anna (or Joseph and Mary?) and the crucified Christ. The date of the font
should be about 1150. The Rood is a grandiose, realistic specimen of wooden
sculpture from the mid-thirteenth century.
Photo Hans Hemlin
Text Dr. Bengt G Söderberg
©1997 Created by Sören_Gannholm