Gustaf Vasa Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gustaf Vasa Church |
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Gustaf Vasa kyrka
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Gustaf Vasa Church, main entrance facing Odenplan.
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| 59°20′33″N 18°02′51″E / 59.34250°N 18.04750°E | |
| Location | Vasastaden, Stockholm |
| Country | Sweden |
| Denomination | Lutheran, Church of Sweden |
| Website | gustafvasa.nu |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Agi Lindegren |
| Style | Baroque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1901 |
| Completed | 10 June 1906 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Gustaf Vasa Parish |
| Diocese | Diocese of Stockholm |
The Gustaf Vasa Church (Swedish: Gustaf Vasa kyrka) is a large church in Stockholm, Sweden. It is located in the Vasastaden area. The church opened in 1906 and is named after King Gustav Vasa, who lived in the 1500s.
The church was designed by architect Agi Lindegren. It was built in the Baroque Revival style, which means it looks like buildings from the 1600s and 1700s. The church has a big dome that reaches 60 meters (about 197 feet) high. It stands near the Odenplan plaza.
The church's floor plan is shaped like a Greek cross. This means it has four arms of equal length. It can seat 1,200 people, making it one of the biggest churches in Stockholm.
Inside the Church
The church has a very tall altarpiece, which is a decorated screen behind the altar. It is 15 meters (about 49 feet) high. This altarpiece was made by Burchard Precht between 1728 and 1731. It is the largest sculpture in Sweden made in the Baroque style.
It was first made for the Uppsala Cathedral. After being stored for some years, it was moved to Gustaf Vasa Church in 1906.
Dome and Frescoes
The inside of the church's dome was painted by an artist named Viktor Andren. His painting shows a scene called the Transfiguration of Jesus. This is a moment where Jesus appears in a bright, glowing form.
Viktor Andren also painted other pictures, called frescoes, inside the church. These paintings show important Bible stories and figures. They include the Four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), the Baptism of Jesus, the Last Supper, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments).
The Organ and Crypt
The church has a special organ. It was built exactly how the composer Otto Olsson wanted it. He was also the church's organist from 1907 to 1956. The organ has 76 "voices," which means it can make many different sounds.
Underneath the church, there is a crypt. A crypt is an underground room. This crypt was first used as a burial chapel. In 1924, it was made bigger with what is likely Sweden's first columbarium. A columbarium is a place where urns with ashes of people who have died are kept.
More to Explore
- List of churches in Stockholm
In Spanish: Iglesia de Gustavo Vasa para niños
