Habo Church

The Church of Habo is an entity belonging to the Church of Sweden in the Swedish Church Habo in Småland. Built in the form of a basilica wooden church is known for its extensive configuration with wall and ceiling paintings. It is located about five kilometers southwest of the village.

Architecture and History

Middle Ages

A first church was probably built in Habo in the 12th century after the missionaries came to the region in the 11th century. The baptismal font made ​​of sandstone is dated to the 13th century. Also dating from the 14th century altar is considerably older than many parts of the church facilities. During construction in 1716 in the altar reliquary was found. Inside was a parchment with the note that Bishop Sigge has consecrated the altar in the middle of the 14th century. The oldest part of the church is the medieval sacristy, also the only running in Stein component. Here are some more from the middle ages derived objects, including ten wooden images of saints and the iron door to the sacristy. Noteworthy is a large sculpture made ​​of wood of which a lamb holding John the Baptist, which originated in the 13th century. Other minor characters from the 15th century and belonged to the former altarpiece.

There were several modifications of the Church. At an old church long lateral extensions were added so that a cruciform church was built. Thus the Church of Habo is represented on a seal from 1622. After the church had next to a large church tower also has two small towers on the sides. 1680 was a further modification in which the church was extended to the west.

Reform of the year 1723

In 1704 the provost Martinus Seth was pastor at the church. The structurally interested campaigned for the Church to rebuild again. Presumably he also produced himself to architectural drawings. He pushed with his proposal on resistors, since the construction of the community members demanded considerable expense, but could prevail eventually. 1723 the church received from Habo by this conversion its present form. Unusually, the church was built in the form of a cathedral but made ​​of wood. As a basilica, the church has a high central nave and two lower side aisles. The size of the church was based on the impressive 2,000 parishioners size of the community. On the left side of the chancel there is a reminiscent of Martinus Seth plaque. For the architect Sven Nilsson Swan there is a corresponding panel on the right side.

In the course of the renovation, the church also received the still existing pulpit. The pulpit is stood by the twelve apostles. In their midst is Jesus. On the pulpit is the death embodying figure of the Grim Reaper, the deeper is, however, as the figure of Jesus on the altar. Pulpit and altar were created by Jonas Ullberg, a sculptor from Härja.

Also, the altarpiece depicting the crucifixion of Jesus, his burial, and resurrection was 1723. A figure of the risen Jesus stands up on the altar wall with a flag of victory. Left and right of the altarpiece are Moses with the tablets of stone and the right with a green border rod his brother Aaron. Unusually the altarpiece is the later incorporated clock. It was created in 1750 in Jönköping, their movement fulfills the Church constantly with a quiet tick. Always on the hour strikes a sedentary on the clock figure of a boy with a hammer on two hemispheres. The clock has only an hour hand.

In the church, men and women sat separately. The women sat on the left side, the so-called spin side and the men on the right, the sword side. The landlords took advantage of the rule chairs in the boxes on the left and right of the altar, and also had a separate entrance to the church. Below the organ is the Fronbauernempore, which was used by the farmers at the parsonage. Moreover, the farmers and especially small farmers stood to the rear seats. Maids and servants sat in the galleries.

1736 was created by the sculptor Haboer Magnus Johansson Ullberg - existing organ case today. The former organ was then created by Johan Niclas Cahman and had eight votes. 1962 but had to be bought a new built by Olof Hammarberg organ. The restored pipes still come from the Cahmanschen organ. This new organ has 16 votes and is designed in the Baroque style.

Configuration with paintings from 1741 to 1743

In the years 1741 to 1743 was carried out by Johan Kinnerus and Johan Christian Peterson extensive murals still preserved the Church. The illustrations give Luther's catechism again, which should be learned by heart at that time. The images that served as support and were probably an idea of the pastor. In part, written statements are available. Images that focus on the Ten Commandments, are located on the side walls, the straight Bids are to the left, the odd right. About the galleries, the Lord's Prayer to the left of the altar is displayed, starting. Legend has it that while working on the image for the line of text but deliver us from the evil one to have appeared to the painter of the devil. The image is to the left of the pulpit very high up beneath the window. The Devil climbed up the ladder to become a painter and complained that he was as shown by the painter not as ugly. As punishment, the painter should be even uglier. The devil then have met the painter of the conductor, who had thereby violated the face.

On the ceilings of the galleries, the Creed is subject, where every picture is an apostle to see. In the field of organ ladies are shown. This could be the Swedish Queen Ulrika Eleonora. As colors painters used a color which they obtained from metal oxides, plants and earth.

Besides the already mentioned plaques for Seth and swan more plaques were still attached. Under the Representation of the fifth commandment is a plaque commemorating the victory over Russia in the Battle of Narva in 1700. Also on the right side under the third commandment the epitaph for the sculptor Magnus Ullberg - Johansson is attached. Another panel, located on the left side, contains a solicitation of Frederick I and Ulrika Eleonora celebrate the Augsburg Confession.

The powerful appearing steeple is more of an architectural ornament and bears no bells. For the bells, a separate bell tower was built in 1760 northeast of the church. Two large bells are, however, re-cast, from the 16th century. A smaller bell was cast in 1760 in Jönköping.

Already in 1776 reported first damage to the images. Further damage was caused by the furnaces, which in the past served to heat the church. Particularly hard hit were the images for the third and fourth commandment.

1872, a restoration of the church was carried out.

1908 was a further restoration of the church as well as a renewal of seating, with the doors of the old pews were used as paneling of the side walls. The church now offers space for 600 visitors. In this restoration, a new baptismal font was purchased. The old baptismal font stood in a shed and forgotten. It has long served as mortar for mixing red color. In 1951 the old baptismal font was again used in accordance with its original purpose. Even today, you find on the inside of the font red color traces. 1912 was a restoration of images.

1952 images were again repaired, but also cleaned and secured. A painting over the images as common in other churches of the case is never done in the church of Habo. In 1981, a small also built by the Gothenburg organ builder Olof Hammarberg organ was placed in the choir.