The apsidial choir and the nave were built of finely cut ashlars about
1200 but were vaulted only in connection with the augmentation of the nave
walls in the mid thirteenth century. A hundred years earlier the tower had
been erected and provided with the principal portal of the church. The old
portal was moved to the northern side, where it served as the womens' entrance.
A runic inscription in the door exhorts: "Virgins, say your prayers
in the right manner". In the interior there are mural paintings from
several periods. The oldest are the Romanesque paintings from about 1200:
in the apse is the usual representation of Majestas Domini surrounded by
the evangelist symbols and apostles and prophets etc. All this was, however
heavily "restored" or rather repainted in 1633; the original high
quality of the paintings is demonstrated by the beautiful Madonna, flanked
by angels, fragmentarily, preserved in a niche to the left of the rood arch.
The style is Franco-Rhinelandish. Over the rood arch the "Passion master"
has placed a big composition of the Last Judgement. The rest of his wallpaintings
have, however, been radically remodelled in 1633, when, too, the truly decorative
foliage underneath was added. In the choir vault angels in mid-sixteenth
century costumes are moving among late Gothic flowers,blowing trumpets The
baptismal font is a work of the 12th century stone master "Byzantios".
Photo Hans Hemlin
Text Dr. Bengt G Söderberg
©1997 Created by Sören_Gannholm