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Södra Råda Old Church facts for kids

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Södra Råda Old Church
Södra Råda gamla kyrka
South Rada church Sweden.jpg
Södra Råda Old Church
Location Gullspång Municipality
Country Sweden
Denomination Church of Sweden
Administration
Parish Amnehärad
Diocese Skara
Church paintings of Södra råda kyrka
Paintings inside the church were dated to 1323.

The Södra Råda Old Church (in Swedish, Södra Råda gamla kyrka) was a very old wooden church. It was built in the early 1300s. This church was located in the Gullspång Municipality in Sweden. It was one of the oldest wooden churches still standing in the country.

Amazing Medieval Paintings

The Södra Råda Old Church was famous for its beautiful paintings. These paintings covered the walls and the special trefoil-shaped wooden ceiling. They were considered some of the best and most well-preserved medieval wall paintings in Scandinavia.

Who Painted Them?

The oldest paintings were in the chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar. These were painted in 1323 by an artist whose name we don't know. Later, in 1493, more paintings were added in the main part of the church, called the nave. These later paintings were signed by an artist known as Amund [sv].

A Sad Event and a New Beginning

Sadly, the Södra Råda Old Church was destroyed by fire on November 12, 2001. Someone was found responsible for setting the fire.

Rebuilding History

After the fire, a special project began. The Swedish National Heritage Board led an effort to dig up the site. They wanted to learn more about the church's original structure. Then, they started an amazing reconstruction project. They rebuilt the church using the same building methods that people used in the Middle Ages. This careful work was finished, and the new church opened in 2022.

External Links

  • Södra Råda, Riksantikvarieämbetet (This link is in Swedish)
  • Dagens Nyheter and
  • Dagens Nyheter (Newspaper articles about the trial, in Swedish)
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