Hedared stave church

Stave Church Hedared ( swedish Hedared Stavkyrka ) is the only on its original site preserved historic stave church outside Norway. It is in the small Swedish town Hedared, about 16 km northwest of the city of Borås. It was built in the early 16th century and is a simple building with a floor area of 35 m².

History

For a long time the stave church Hedared, like most stave churches, dated to the period 1100-1300. Later dendrochronological studies, however, that the present building dates not from the Middle Ages, but only from the period around 1500. As probably is the year 1506, in which the construction of the church was mentioned in a letter from the then Bishop. Some older parts, however, indicate that at that time an established here in the 12th century similar church was incorporated into the new building.

At the time of its construction, the church was very simple and consisted only of the walls made ​​of oak wood, the roof and the hard-packed ground. Only later it was fitted with wooden floor, pulpit and benches and provided with windows. 1830 was communicated to the Hedaredern by a royal letter, that they should not receive more substances classified as dilapidated church, but to build a new church, together with the neighboring community Sandhult. However, the villagers opposed this arrangement, and received the stave church in addition to the newly built Sandhulter church.

An external repair in 1901 also took place on the initiative of the villagers, 1934-35 and the interior has been restored. Then the church was consecrated and then re- used regularly again. The cost of recovery in 1901 have the Hedareder supported by wood supply and labor services, the restoration in 1934 was financed by donations.

Restoration 1995-1997

The construction technology of the stave church causes a poor protection against moisture. Thus, a thorough renovation rot made ​​in this climate in speed bumps, corner posts and wall boards in spite of some repairs in previous years, inevitable. Before the restoration, the church was rebuilt in the fall of 1995 with a tarpaulin tent. To remove damaged humps and wooden walls, the church was raised 60 cm. From hewn oak new thresholds were manufactured and replaced about 30 wall boards. The supporting structure of the repair took almost a year. In the fall of 1996, the church was again lowered and the shingle roofs replaced with the same type clamping wood that had been used a century earlier the Hedareder. Outside the church received a trim boards that they had previously and the porch was renewed. The appearance of the stave church now corresponds almost exactly to that of the mid-18th century to the turn of the century 1900. On 11 May 1997, the Church of Bishop Lars- Göran Lönnermark reopened.

Equipment

The church has, despite its simplicity, some valuable items, but not all stored in the building.

Painting

Renovated When the interior of the church 1934-35, it has been discovered that painted on the outside wall of medieval altarpiece. It probably dates from the late 14th century and represents the coronation of the Virgin Mary dar. When the church was painted in 1735, you have the choir wall covered with boards and so covered the altar. The resulting after altarpiece depicts Jesus on the cross, to the left Moses and Aron to the right. The image was divided during the renovation in four wings, which can be opened to release the old altarpiece.

The picture on the left wall of the choir shows Jesus in Gethsemane, on the opposite wall burial, and on the choir ceiling, the baptism of Jesus. The painting of the nave roof with the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the four Evangelists in medallions. The balustrade of the gallery and the pulpit are decorated with Apostles images.

Inventory

About the re- created side altar is a statue of the Madonna, probably the work of a foreign master from the 13th to the 14th century. The relief of Francis near the pulpit may have been produced by another medieval side altar. Under a sheet of glass on the main altar is a cloth with dragon motif - a medieval monastery work in Filet with bobbin lace top. On the altar is a French processional cross from the 12th century. A censer in the chancel arch is reminiscent of the Catholic mass. The chalice of silver gilt from the 13th century and the medieval stone baptismal font are still used.

Apart from the pulpit, a push bar with the clerk could arouse deadened church attendance and two spirally carved Florstäbe with a broad head. Such mourning bars were - provided with a black ribbon - worn with pompous Leichenbegräbnissen at the funeral.

The use of a heavily worn piece of wood with an inlaid stone of green Diabasporphyr is not clear, probably it was used as a travel or field altar. The piece in the restoration of 1901 Found behind a plate shuttering under the pulpit.

There is also a dedicated Jesper Swedberg Bible, a wax candle (perhaps from the Middle Ages ) and a plate filled with a bell cast in 1722. Probably date from the same period a red altar frontal and a black chasuble with gold ribbons.

The church also has a discharge letter from Bishop Vincentius of Skara from the year 1506. According to the letter all who visited the church in Hedared been to a trade show to be deterred deter or, donated money for the preservation of the church or other specified in the letter devotion made ​​, freed from the constraints imposed penance.

Belfry

The bell tower next to the church was originally open, but was provided in the 19th century with a plate shuttering, which has received its present form in the 20th century. The bell was recast in 1814, the age of the previous is not known.