Anga Church, Gotland

The single-nave church of Anga (Swedish Anga kyrka ) on Gotland appears to have been built in the first half of the 13th century. Probably there was a break between the construction of the nave and the tower. The sacristy was only at the beginning of the 19th century, as a side -mounted, to the final with an apse choir.

Church building

Aside from the extremely high spire, the church gives the impression as if it belongs to the normal Romanesque parish churches on Gotland. However, it falls to the proportions of the nave, which is very short in proportion to its height. It seems only just as long as the choir and shorter than the length of the facade of the tower. This can be explained by the fact that the nave much further inside to the west and the tower is hitched to this part of the nave. Its eastern walls rest, as in the church ruins of Bara, on the center column and the transverse arches.

Murals

The church has one of the best preserved medieval church interiors Gotland. In particular, contribute to the colorful murals that came to light during restoration work in the years 1946-47. They come from two eras:

• The older, from the late 13th century, in the vault of the nave is ornamental in the main and signed. The painter Halvard stands in a Donationsinschrift in runes on the arch. The longer inscription in the same formation on the north wall of the nave is written in runes in altgotländischer language. In the inscription, the farmers of the community are enumerated who helped with oxen - drawn carts in the construction of the church.
• The paintings from the mid-15th century part of the extensive work of the Passion Master. In the West the childhood of Christ is represented, in the north of the Passion story and about the legend of St. Margaret. In the south, followed by a series of Acts, a Seelenwägung and a representation of St. Bernardino of Siena.

Equipment

The simple baptism of limestone is in the western part of the sanctuary. It is dated to the second half of the 13th century. The grave stone with runic inscription in the floor of the choir south of the altar, probably also dates from the 13th century. On the high altar in the apse is a well-preserved polyptych from the second half of the 14th century, the balances of Gammelgarn. The triumph crucifix from the 15th century. The pulpit is a work from the late 17th century. It was painted according to the inscription in 1741. The pews well preserved, uniform dates back to the 18th century and was painted in 1748. The church was in 1946-47 by the architect Erik Fant undergone extensive restoration. An exterior restoration was done in 1983.

Location

The church is located in the east of Gotland in the vicinity of the road 146 from Ljugarn after Slite, 30 km south-east of Visby, 26 km south of Slite, 15 km southeast of Rome and 16 km north of Ljugarn.