Hällestad kyrka, Hällestad, Östergötland

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Hällestad, Östergötland, Sweden

History

The first church in Hällestad was probably built in the 13th century. What is known about it is that it was plundered by the Danish during the time of Erik XIV and that it was destroyed in a fire in 1726 along with the clock tower and the vicarage. A new church was built but that too was burnt down, in 1893. This time the clock tower was saved.

The new church came to have a built in clock tower. The old clock tower was given to the open-air museum Skansen in Stockholm and its bells ring in the new year every New Years Eve, broadcasted on national television.

The modern church was finished in 1895 and in its original form it could seat 900 people. After modernizations and restorations it seats 500 people. Five of the chandeliers are from the old church and can be dated to the 17th century. The hourglass, and two big brass candelabras were saved in the fire of 1893.

Externa Links

• The Hällestad Clocktower at Skansen

Sources

• Church of Sweden's information about the church in Hällestad