Örgryte New Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Örgryte New Church |
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Örgryte New Church in May 2011
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 Örgryte New Church
Location in Sweden
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| 57°42′10″N 12°00′19″E / 57.7029°N 12.0054°E | |
| Location | Gothenburg |
| Country | Sweden |
| Denomination | Church of Sweden |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 6 July 1890 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1888 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Diocese of Gothenburg |
Örgryte New Church (which is Örgryte nya kyrka in Swedish) is a beautiful church in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is built in the Gothic style, which means it has tall, pointed arches and large windows. The church stands on a hill called Svalberget.
This church is part of the Church of Sweden and serves the Örgryte congregation. Because of how the land is shaped, the church faces northeast to southwest. It has a cross shape and a tall tower that is almost 60 meters (about 197 feet) high!
Contents
How the Church Was Built
Why a New Church Was Needed
Around 1870, the people of Örgryte realized their old church was too small. It could only hold about 400 people, but the community was growing fast. By 1885, a plan was made to build a much bigger church.
The Reverend Magnus Ekberg led this big project. People started collecting money, and the church also took out a loan. Many generous people helped, including merchants like David Lundstrom, James Dickson, David Carnegie, and Oscar Ekman.
Building the Church
The new church was designed to hold over 1,000 people, more than twice the size of the old one. It was built using bricks, which was a popular style at the time. The church needed strong ground, so it was built on top of Svalberget.
Some parts of the church were special gifts. A local brewer named JW Lyckholm paid for the two large bells. Captain Pontus Virgin donated the altar. The beautiful stained glass windows were a gift from a wholesaler named Peter Hammarberg.
The architect who designed the church was Adrian C. Peterson. The builder was a company called F O Peterson & Söner. Construction started in the summer of 1888. The church was officially opened on July 6, 1890, by bishop Edvard Herman Rodhe.
The total cost to build the church was about 226,000 Swedish Kronor (SEK). Donations covered more than half of this amount, and the rest came from a loan and the church's own funds. The church is made from red bricks from Skåne, a region in Sweden. It didn't even get electricity until 1908!
Changes Over Time
The church has been updated a few times. In 1937, a major restoration took place, and the pulpit (where the preacher stands) was moved. In 1952, some painted circular windows were moved, and other stained glass windows from 1889 were stored.
Church Organs
Örgryte New Church has two amazing organs. Organs are large musical instruments that make sound using air flowing through pipes.
The Willis Organ
One organ is called the Willis organ. It was first built around 1871 for a church in London, England, by Henry Willis & Sons. Henry Willis was a very famous organ builder. When the London church closed in 1971, the organ was taken apart and sold.
In 1992, the Academy of Music in Gothenburg learned about it. The Örgryte Assembly Organ Foundation bought it in 1998. This organ is the largest Victorian organ made in Britain that is now in Sweden.
The North German Baroque Organ
The other organ is called the North German Baroque organ. It was built as part of a big research project at the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers. It was made at the GOArt workshop.
The goal was to create an organ that sounded like those built by the famous organ builder Arp Schnitger (1648–1719). This organ has four keyboards and a pedalboard, with 54 different sounds (called stops).
The Church Bells
The church tower holds two large bells. Each bell has a special message carved into it.
The larger bell has a message that encourages people to come to the church and thank God. It says things like, "Come, for all things are now ready" and "Thank the Lord into his gates."
The smaller bell's message is about thanking and praising God. It includes lines like, "It's a precious thing to thank the Lord" and "The morning proclaim your mercy." Both bells were made in 1899 and were paid for by JW Lyckholm.
Altarpiece
An altarpiece is a work of art placed behind the altar in a church. In 1950, a church painter named Thor Fagerkvist was asked to create a new altarpiece for Örgryte New Church.
This new altarpiece replaced an older sculpture from 1890. The new one is a triptych, which means it has three panels. It has five oil paintings on canvas. Three paintings are usually visible, showing scenes related to Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. During Lent, the panels close, revealing two other paintings.
The Old Altar Sculpture
The original altar sculpture was made of carved oak wood by Carl Johan Dyfverman in 1890. It showed Jesus being crucified, with Mary, another Mary, and the disciple John standing beneath the cross.
This sculpture was painted in 1923 and restored in 1969. In 1951, it was moved from the altar to its current spot in the transept (the part of the church that crosses the main body).
Altar
The altar is a table or stand where religious ceremonies take place. In 1952, a crucifix (a cross with Jesus on it) made of ivory and ebony was placed on the altar. This crucifix was a gift from the church members. It was later moved to the sacristy (a room where sacred vessels and vestments are kept).
Font
The baptismal font is a basin used for baptisms. The font in Örgryte New Church was designed by architect Axel Forssén. Reverend Magnus Nilman, who took over after Dean Ekberg, donated it to the new church in 1927. He also gave a copper basin for the font. An older stone font was then returned to the old church.
