När Church

När Church
Närs kyrka
När Church, external view
När Church
57°15′26″N 18°37′30″E / 57.25722°N 18.62500°E / 57.25722; 18.62500
Country	Sweden
Denomination	Church of Sweden
Administration
Diocese	Visby

När Church (Swedish: Närs kyrka) is a medieval Lutheran church on the Swedish island Gotland, in the Diocese of Visby.

History and architecture

The baptismal font, by Hegvald

The oldest part of the presently visible church at När is the tower, erected at the middle of the 13th century. Originally, it was designed to be able to function as a defensive tower, with arrowslits still visible on the first floor. The present nave and choir of the church were added to the tower around the year 1300. Of an earlier, Romanesque church on the same site no traces remain today.^[1]

Externally, the church has two portals decorated with stone sculptures on the southern façade. Internally, the nave is divided in two by two central columns. Among the furnishings, the Romanesque baptismal font is the oldest. It was made by the sculptor known as Hegvald and its sculptured reliefs display religious motifs. The church also has a late medieval triumphal cross. Other furnishings are mostly from the 17th and early 18th centuries. In one of the lychgates leading to the church, a decorated tombstone from 1322 is displayed.^[1]

References

1 2 Lagerlöf, Erland, ed. (1973). Gotlands kyrkor (in Swedish). Uddevalla: Rabén & Sjögren. pp. 218–219. ISBN 9129410355.

External links

Media related to När Church at Wikimedia Commons

Churches on Gotland, Sweden

Akebäck Ala Alskog Alva Anga Ardre Atlingbo Barlingbo Björke Boge Bro Bunge Burs Buttle Bäl Dalhem Eke Ekeby Eksta Endre Eskelhem Etelhem Fardhem Fide Fleringe Fole Follingbo Fröjel Fårö Gammelgarn Ganthem Garde Gerum Gothem Grötlingbo Guldrupe Hablingbo Hall Halla Hamra Hangvar Havdhem Hejde Hejdeby Hejnum Hellvi Hemse Hogrän Hörsne Klinte Kräklingbo Källunge Lau Levide Linde Lojsta Lokrume Lummelunda Lye Lärbro Martebo Mästerby Norrlanda När Näs Othem Roma Rone Rute Sanda Silte Sjonhem Slite Sproge Stenkumla Stenkyrka Stånga Sundre Tingstäde Tofta Träkumla Vall Vallstena Vamlingbo Viklau Visby Cathedral Visborg Vänge Väskinde Västergarn Västerhejde Väte Öja Östergarn

Commons

Coordinates: 57°15′26″N 18°37′30″E / 57.25722°N 18.62500°E / 57.25722; 18.62500

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