Boge Church
History and architecture
Boge Church is an early Gothic church. The oldest parts are the choir and the sacristy, dating from the mid-13th century. The nave is somewhat later, and replaced an earlier, Romanesque nave; this explains why the nave is unusually short and wide, as it was squeezed in between an existing tower and the choir. The tower seen today however dates from 1867 to 1892, as the old tower collapsed during a storm in 1857. On this occasion, the nave was also severely damaged, but likewise later reconstructed.
Externally, the church is supported by a single buttress, erected after the storm in 1857 to stabilise the church. The main portal is somewhat later than the rest of the building, and dates from the mid-14th century. Its capitals are decoratively sculpted.
Internally, the church is decorated with two sets of medieval murals dating from the construction period and the mid-15th century, respectively. The later ones are in the style of the so-called Master of the Passion of Christ. Most of the furnishings date from the 18th century, with the exception of the baptismal font (13th century) and a large, medieval iron chandelier. Some medieval tombstones are also visible in the choir.
The church belongs to the Church of Sweden and lies within the Diocese of Visby.
References
- ^ Lagerlöf, Erland, ed. (1973). Gotlands kyrkor (in Swedish). Uddevalla: Rabén & Sjögren. pp. 103–104. ISBN 9129410355.
- ^ "Telefon och adresslista till alla våra 10 pastorat på Gotland" (in Swedish). Diocese of Visby (Church of Sweden). Retrieved 25 January 2020.
Further reading
- Wollin, Nils G. (1935). Boge kyrka (in: Rute setting). Sveriges kyrkor, konsthistoriskt inventarium (in Swedish). Vol. 42:2. Stockholm: Generalstabens Litografiska Anstalt. pp. 131–144. ISSN 0284-1894.
External links
- Media related to Boge Church at Wikimedia Commons