Gothenburg Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gothenburg Cathedral |
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| Gustavi domkyrka | |
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Gothenburg Cathedral.
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| 57°42′16″N 11°57′55″E / 57.70444°N 11.96528°E | |
| Location | Gothenburg |
| Country | Sweden |
| Denomination | Church of Sweden |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Carl Wilhelm Carlberg |
| Style | Classicism |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Gothenburg |
Gothenburg Cathedral (Swedish: Gustavi domkyrka / Göteborgs domkyrka) is a large, important church in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is the main church for the Diocese of Gothenburg within the Church of Sweden. This means it's where the bishop of the area has their official seat.
Contents
The First Cathedral: A New Beginning
Before the first cathedral was built, a temporary wooden church stood here for about 12 years. This was one of the very first buildings in the city of Gothenburg.
The construction of a new, grander church began in 1627. King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden helped pay for it by creating a special tax. People had to donate grain from their church-owned land for several years.
The foundation stone was laid on June 19, 1626. The main part of the building was finished by 1633. For a while, the old wooden church's tower was still used as a guard tower. A new stone tower replaced it in 1643.
On August 10 and 11, 1633, the church was officially opened. This event is still remembered with a special sermon each year. The church wasn't called a "cathedral" until the 1680s.
The first church had three large bells in its tower. Their sound could be heard for over 8 kilometers! A smaller bell on the north wall chimed the hour.
The church was built from granite and covered with Dutch bricks. It had 18 large windows and a fancy arched entrance. It was about 48 meters long and 20 meters wide.
Inside the First Cathedral
The cathedral had 17 strong, octagonal pillars supporting its roof. Eight pillars were on each side of the main hall (nave), and one was in the choir area.
The first pulpit was made in Germany or by German artists in Gothenburg. It was replaced in the 1670s by a new one carved by Marcus Jaeger the Elder. He used alabaster and ebony to create historical images. He also made the baptismal font and carved decorations on the pews.
There was a special royal seat, like a throne, for the king. It was placed near the front of the church. In 1869, it was covered in red velvet for King Charles XI of Sweden's visit.
An organ was installed by 1648. A new pipe organ was added in 1661. Marcus Jaeger also helped by adding four fancy pillars to lift the organ higher.
Becoming a Cathedral
The church was originally named "Gustavi church" after King Gustavus Adolphus. It was also called the "Swedish Church" to tell it apart from Gothenburg's German Church. In 1665, it officially became a cathedral when a bishop's office was created for the city.
Burial Grounds
The area around the cathedral was used as a burial ground starting in 1645. By 1846, this area was known as Domkyrkoplatsen (Cathedral Square). A wall with arched gates surrounded the churchyard.
The Second Cathedral: Rising from Ashes
On April 15, 1721, a big fire destroyed the cathedral, a nearby high school, and many homes. Luckily, the cathedral's walls were still standing. This meant the building could be repaired quickly.
Just a month after the fire, plans for rebuilding were presented. The cathedral reopened on May 25, 1722, only 13 months later! It had the same size as before, but the tower had a different top.
The tower took another ten years to finish. A temporary bell tower was used in the churchyard until the new tower was ready in 1732. This new tower looked similar to the one on the German Church.
Inside, the ceiling was finished between 1734 and 1739. The floor was completed in 1740 with 1,400 large Öland limestone tiles. A new organ was built in 1733–1734. It was designed to be as good as the organ in Uppsala Cathedral.
In 1750, a beautiful sculpted altarpiece was suggested. It shows Christ on a cross with two kneeling angels. A pharmacist named Franz Martin Luth paid for it. It was finished in 1754 and is still used today.
In 1769, a building called a charnel house was added. It was used to store coffins before burial, especially during warmer months, to keep the church from smelling bad.
The Third (Current) Cathedral: A Modern Design
The second cathedral also burned down on December 20, 1802. This fire was even worse, destroying 179 houses. The church was so badly damaged that its walls could not be used again.
Building a new church started in 1804. Some of the old church's foundations were reused. Stones from the old church were even used in other buildings in the city.
The new cathedral was designed by architect Carl Wilhelm Carlberg. He died before it was finished, so his student, Justus Frederick Weinberg, completed the work. The church was officially opened on May 21, 1815.
The tower was finished later, in 1825, and its copper roof was added in 1827.
After the 1802 fire, the old cemetery around the church was turned into an open square. It was paved with cobblestones and later planted with trees and surrounded by an iron fence.
It's believed that about 20,000 people were buried in the church area over the centuries. Another 3,000 people were buried inside the church itself. A plaque outside the church reminds visitors of this history.
Gothenburg Cathedral was the first church in Sweden to get central heating in 1852. Gas lighting was installed in 1853.
In the early 1900s, the church tower started to lean. The church had to be closed for a long time for repairs to make it stable again. Major restorations also happened in 1904, 1954–1957, and 1983–1985.
During a new elevator installation in 2013, parts of the first cathedral's walls were found about 30 centimeters under the floor!
Cathedral Architecture: A Mix of Styles
The current cathedral is designed in a classical style. It is larger than the previous two churches. It is about 59.4 meters long and 38 meters wide. The main hall (nave) is 22.86 meters wide. The inside height of the nave is 14.25 meters, and the tower reaches 52.85 meters high.
A great example of its classical style is the large main entrance at the west end. It has four Doric columns.
Inside the Cathedral
The inside of the cathedral shows a mix of styles, mainly classical and Empire style. The tall, thin pillars (pilasters) on the walls are classical. They are made of red marble with gold leaf at the top.
The Empire style can be seen in the white and gold decorations, the special bench for the bishop, and the wall clock. The pulpit, designed by Axel Magnus Fahlcrantz, is also in the Empire style.
However, the angel figures on the altar are in a Baroque style. These figures were made in 1752 and were saved from the 1802 fire.
The old white and gold grandfather clock inside the cathedral is from the 1700s. It also survived the 1802 fire. It was made in Gothenburg in 1751.
The Organ
The current organ in the west end of the church was built in 1962. It still has its original white and gold front from an earlier organ.
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The altar
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The organ with the original façade
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The wall clock that also survived the fire
