Storkyrkan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Storkyrkan |
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Stockholms domkyrka
Sankt Nikolai kyrka |
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East facade of Storkyrkan, facing Slottsbacken
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| 59°19′33″N 18°04′14″E / 59.32583°N 18.07056°E | |
| Location | Stockholm |
| Country | Sweden |
| Denomination | Church of Sweden |
| Previous denomination | Catholic Church |
| Website | Website of Storkyrkan |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 13th century |
| Dedication | Saint Nicholas |
| Consecrated | 1306 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Cathedral & Parish church |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 63 metres (207 ft) |
| Width | 37.2 metres (122 ft) |
| Height | 60.4 metres (198 ft) (to the top of the tower) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Stockholm |
Storkyrkan (which means "The Great Church") is also known as Stockholm Cathedral or Church of Saint Nicholas. It is the oldest church in Stockholm, Sweden. You can find it in the heart of Gamla stan (Old Town), right between Stockholm Palace and Stortorget, the city's old main square.
The church was officially opened in 1306 and was dedicated to Saint Nicholas. However, people believe construction started even earlier, in the 13th century. Inside, Storkyrkan still looks much like it did in the Middle Ages. It has a high, vaulted ceiling supported by brick pillars. But the outside of the church looks very different. It was changed a lot in the 1700s to a style called Baroque.
Storkyrkan played a big part in Swedish history. It was the first place where a church service (called Mass) was held in Swedish, instead of Latin. This happened during the Reformation in Sweden, a time when Sweden changed from the Catholic Church to the Church of Sweden. Today, Storkyrkan is the main church for the Bishop of Stockholm.
For a long time, Storkyrkan was the only church for all of Stockholm. It has always been closely linked to the Swedish royal family. Many important historical events have happened here. For centuries, kings and queens were crowned in this church. More recently, in 2010, Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling had their wedding here. The church is also used to remember big national events and for funerals of famous people, like the writer Astrid Lindgren.
Inside Storkyrkan, you can see many important artworks and beautiful decorations. One famous piece is a sculpture from the late Middle Ages called Saint George and the Dragon. There's also a painting called Vädersolstavlan, which is one of the oldest pictures of Stockholm.
Contents
Where is Storkyrkan Located?
Storkyrkan is the oldest church in Stockholm. It was built right in the middle of the medieval city. It sits on the highest point of Gamla stan. The church is located between the Stock Exchange Building and Stockholm Palace.
The church, along with the palace and the old main square (Stortorget), was the heart of early Stockholm. While the inside of the church still looks medieval, the outside was mostly changed in the 1700s. Storkyrkan is part of a beautiful group of Baroque architecture buildings. These include the Royal Palace and other grand buildings nearby. People say it's an "irreplaceable" part of Stockholm's look.
Storkyrkan has streets on three sides. There's a courtyard right next to the south side of the church. Two small buildings, designed by Erik Palmstedt in 1767, are also part of the church area. They used to be the church's burial chapel and coach-house. The courtyard has walls with fancy wrought iron gates. Statues used to decorate these gates. The two statues still on the west gate might show Reason and Divine Love.
Next to the east side of the church, there's a statue of the Swedish reformer Olaus Petri. It was put there in 1898. On the ground near the east side, you can see lines that show where a church choir used to be. It was taken down a long time ago.
How Storkyrkan Was Built
Early History of the Church
The first mention of a church in Stockholm was in 1279. The church was officially opened in 1306. This makes Storkyrkan the oldest church in Stockholm. It's not totally clear how the church started. Stockholm was founded in the mid-1200s, so it's likely there was a church before 1306. Some stories say that Birger Jarl, who helped found Stockholm, also founded the church.
The oldest parts of the building we see today probably come from the church opened in 1306. During the Middle Ages, Saint Nicholas was the main patron saint of the church. Many churches in the Baltic region from the 1200s were dedicated to Saint Nicholas. This was common in cities where the Hanseatic League (a powerful trading group) was active, like Stockholm. Storkyrkan was the only church for all of Stockholm until the 1590s.
The church was first built with a main area (called a nave) and two side areas (called aisles). It had a wooden ceiling supported by six pillars. The building was made of brick. Over the 1300s and 1400s, the church was rebuilt and made bigger many times. Making the church more beautiful showed how powerful the Swedish monarchs and Stockholm's citizens were.
Medieval Changes and Growth
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Around 1346, the first of many chapels was added to the church. This chapel was dedicated to Saint Mary. You can still see where its four sections (called bays) were inside Storkyrkan today. More chapels were added in the 1300s and early 1400s. By the end of the Middle Ages, Storkyrkan had over 30 chapels or special altars. The church grew piece by piece as these chapels were added.
Between 1474 and 1496, a big rebuilding project happened. All these chapels were joined into one large space. New vaults were put in, making the ceiling uniformly high. The church was also made much longer towards the east. A choir section was added, but it was later taken down in the 1500s. The church tower was also built in the early 1400s. It was mainly meant to be a defense tower. By the late 1400s, Storkyrkan had its basic shape and size that it still has today.
Reformation and Later Updates
In the 1500s, the Reformation in Sweden brought big changes. Sweden stopped being Catholic and became Lutheran. The state took much of the church's property, including silver from its chapels. Some Catholic sculptures were damaged.
During the 1700s, the outside of Storkyrkan changed a lot. Its medieval look was completely replaced with a Baroque style. Architects like Johan Eberhard Carlberg worked on these changes. The tower and other parts of the outside were decorated with pillars and designs. This big change happened between 1736 and 1745. The outside of the church you see today is mostly thanks to Carlberg's work.
Later in the 1700s, architect Erik Palmstedt redesigned the south side of the church courtyard. He also added a stairwell to the south side of the tower. These changes made the church look more Classical, even though it had medieval roots. King Gustav III of Sweden even wanted to tear down the whole church and build a new one inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.
Recent History of the Building
In the 1860s, the windows got new iron decorations in a Neo-Gothic style. More changes were made in the late 1800s to make the church safer from fire. A major renovation happened from 1903 to 1909. During this time, the white paint covering the brick pillars and walls was removed. Since then, the inside of the church has shown its bare brick. Another big renovation took place from 1952 to 1954. In 1942, Storkyrkan became a cathedral for the new Diocese of Stockholm.
Storkyrkan's Royal Connections
Storkyrkan has been the site of many important events in Swedish history. Because Stockholm grew wealthy and the church was near the Royal Palace, it got attention from both the Archbishop and the kings of Sweden.
The Reformation in Sweden really started in Storkyrkan. It was here that the new Lutheran ideas were first preached publicly. In 1525, Storkyrkan was also the first church in Sweden to hold a church service in Swedish. Olaus Petri, a main leader of the Reformation, was a priest here at that time.
Royal Coronations
The church has been used for the coronation of Swedish kings and queens many times. The first royal coronation in Storkyrkan was for King Magnus IV and his wife in 1336. After that, most medieval coronations happened in Uppsala.
The next coronation in Storkyrkan was in 1497, for King John. In 1521, Christian II of Denmark was crowned here. This ceremony was meant to show that Sweden was under his rule. Just a few days later, the sad event known as the Stockholm Bloodbath happened.
For a while, it was thought to be bad luck for kings to be crowned in Storkyrkan. But King Eric XIV of Sweden and Karin Månsdotter had their wedding and her coronation here in 1568. Queen Christina was crowned in Storkyrkan in 1650. From 1720 onwards, almost all Swedish monarchs were crowned in Storkyrkan. The last coronation of a Swedish monarch in Storkyrkan was for King Oscar II in 1873.
Royal Weddings and Funerals
Storkyrkan has also hosted several royal weddings. Two of King Gustav Vasa's daughters were married here. In 1823, the future King Oscar I and Josephine of Leuchtenberg were married in Storkyrkan. Many other royal family members also had their weddings here in the 1800s and 1900s. In 2010, the wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling took place in Storkyrkan.
While Storkyrkan was not often used for royal burials, many important funerals have happened here in the 1900s. In 1930, the funeral for the explorers from the failed Andrée's Arctic balloon expedition was held here. More recently, the funerals of writer Astrid Lindgren (in 2002) and Sara Danius (in 2019) also took place in Storkyrkan. After the MS Estonia ferry sank in 1994, a memorial service was held here. The church also hosted a special service after the assassination of foreign minister Anna Lindh in 2003.
Other Public Events
Storkyrkan has been used for other public events too. Many military victories were celebrated here, especially during the time of the Swedish Empire. The biggest celebration was for the victory at the Battle of Narva (1700).
In the past, the clergy (church leaders) often held their meetings in Storkyrkan. Even today, a sermon in Storkyrkan traditionally marks the opening of the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) each autumn. In the Middle Ages, the city council of Stockholm also met in the church.
Storkyrkan's Architecture
Outside the Church
The church is built from brick. Its base is made stronger with sandstone and granite. Storkyrkan is not huge; it is about 63 metres (207 ft) long and 37.2 metres (122 ft) wide. The outside of the church is all in the Baroque style. The north and south walls have decorative pillars. The tower and the gables (the triangular parts of the walls) are also decorated. On the southeast corner, there's a sundial from the 1500s. A large plaque on the east wall remembers the church's rebuilding in the 1700s.
The church has 28 windows that let light into the inside. The main entrance is at the base of the tower on the west side. There's another entrance on the north wall, and two smaller ones on the south.
Inside the Church
Storkyrkan is a hall church. This means its main area and side areas are all about the same height. It has five sections wide and eight sections long. The inside is covered by brick vaults supported by pillars. The central eight sections have complex rib vaults. The rest of the church has simpler groin vaults.
The main area (nave) has open benches on both sides. The choir floor is three steps higher than the rest of the church. It is separated by iron fences. Three galleries (balconies) are located at the west end, and one of them holds the church organ. Most windows are clear, but the northwest window has stained glass made in the 1900s. The round stained glass window in the east wall was made in France and given to the church in 1858.
Art and Furnishings
The Silver Altarpiece
The main altarpiece in Storkyrkan is called the silver altarpiece. It was given to the church in 1652. This Baroque altarpiece is made of ebony wood and silver. It has a central part and two side wings. The central part has three levels of silver reliefs (sculptures that stick out from a flat surface). These reliefs show scenes like the Crucifixion and the Entombment of Jesus. At the very top, there's a small statue of Christ.
In the Middle Ages, the church had many other altarpieces. Some of them are now in other churches or museums.
Saint George and the Dragon Sculpture
North of the choir, there's a large, late medieval statue of Saint George and the Dragon. It's considered one of the most impressive medieval artworks in Storkyrkan. The statue is about 3.5 metres (11 ft) tall. It shows Saint George on horseback fighting the dragon. A smaller group of figures shows the princess he is saving. The base of the statue has scenes from the legend of Saint George.
This sculpture was ordered by Sten Sture the Elder after his victory over Danish troops in 1471. He had prayed to Saint George for help during the battle. The sculpture was officially revealed in 1489. It is believed to have been made by Bernt Notke. The sculpture was not just a religious artwork. It was also a way to remember Sten Sture and his victory.
Other Medieval Art
The church also has a crucifix, possibly made by the same artist as the Saint George sculpture. It is made of oak wood and was likely created between 1475 and 1500.
The church's baptismal font was made in 1514. It is made of limestone. A tall, seven-branched bronze candelabrum (a large candle holder) from the late 1400s is also in the church. It has lion sculptures at its base.
Vädersolstavlan Painting
The oldest known color picture of Stockholm is the Vädersolstavlan (The sun dog painting). It was given to the church in 1535. The painting you see today is a copy from 1636. It shows Stockholm in the early 1500s. Above the city, it shows a "sun dog," which is a bright spot of light in the sky caused by ice crystals. This event was seen over Stockholm on April 20, 1535.
Other Paintings
Storkyrkan has two huge paintings by David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl: The Crucifixion and The Last Judgment. They were painted in 1695 and 1696. They were originally meant for the Royal Chapel but were saved from a fire and put in Storkyrkan. The Crucifixion is 7.4 metres (24 ft) tall, and The Last Judgment is over 10 metres (33 ft) tall.
Other paintings include an epitaph (a memorial artwork) taken from Poland in 1626. There's also a 17th-century Russian icon of Saint Nicholas, which was taken by Swedish troops in 1703 and given to the church.
Royal Pews and Pulpit
The pulpit (where sermons are given) is on the north side of the main area. It was designed and built by Burchard Precht between 1698 and 1702. It's made of gilded (gold-covered) wood and has many decorations.
East of the pulpit are two royal pews (special seating areas). One is on the north side and one on the south. They have a seating area with a decorated wooden barrier. Above each pew is a gilded wooden canopy shaped like a huge royal crown. These royal pews were designed for the royal family by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger.
Graves and Monuments
In the past, people were often buried inside the church. Storkyrkan still has many decorated graves and memorial monuments. There are also many memorial plaques on the walls. One of these remembers famous architects like Nicodemus Tessin the Elder and Carl Gustav Tessin.
Votive Ship
One of the oldest votive ships (model ships given as offerings) in the world came from Storkyrkan. It's from the 1600s and is now in the Maritime Museum in Stockholm. A copy of it hangs in the church today.
Music at Storkyrkan
The organ in Storkyrkan was built in 1960. The front of the organ was designed in 1789. The church has been used for concerts since the late 1700s. Today, Storkyrkan has four choirs. One of them, Storkyrkans Gosskör (Storkyrkan's Boys Choir), has been around since the 1600s. Several organists who worked at Storkyrkan were also composers, including Andreas Düben and Ferdinand Zellbell the Younger.
Images for kids
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Trophies from the Battle of Svensksund carried into Storkyrkan (1790), painting by Pehr Hilleström.
