Sanda Church (Swedish: Sanda kyrka) is a medieval church on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Its oldest parts date from the middle of the 13th century. It belongs to the Diocese of Visby.

Sanda Church
Sanda kyrka
Sanda Church, view of the exterior
Sanda Church is located in Gotland
Sanda Church
Sanda Church
57°25′45″N 18°13′24″E / 57.42917°N 18.22333°E / 57.42917; 18.22333
CountrySweden
DenominationChurch of Sweden
Administration
DioceseVisby

History and architecture

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The oldest part of the church is the tower, dating from the middle of the 13th century. The nave is from the beginning of the 14th century, while the choir dates from the middle of the same century. There was an earlier church on the same spot, elements of which have been incorporated as building material in the presently visible church. The church is richly decorated inside with murals dating from the Middle Ages. They depict different Christian motifs.[1]

Of the church fittings, the baptismal font (second half of 12th century) and triumphal cross (middle of the 13th century) are both medieval. The church was renovated in 1956.[2] Several runic inscriptions were also discovered in or around the church, with one of the grave-slabs being displayed in the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Roelvink, Henrik (1998). Franciscans in Sweden: Medieval Remnants of Franciscan Activities. Assen, The Netherlands: Uitgeverij Van Gorcum. p. 103. ISBN 978-90-232-3377-0.
  2. ^ Jacobsson, Britta; Johansson, Eva; Johansson, Per; Andersson, Rolf (1990). Våra kyrkor (in Swedish). Västervik: Klarkullens förlag AB. p. 680. ISBN 91-971561-08.
  3. ^ Glauser, Jürg; Hermann, Pernille; Mitchell, Stephen A. (2018). Handbook of Pre-Modern Nordic Memory Studies: Interdisciplinary Approaches. Berlin and Boston: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. 1077. ISBN 978-3-11-043136-0.

Further reading

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