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Södra Härene kyrka

Address
Kungsgatan 43
Municipality
Vårgårda Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Skara

Södra Härene kyrka stands roughly six kilometres north of Vårgårda, in the Skara diocese. Built in 1910 after fire destroyed its predecessor, it is one of the few churches in the diocese to feature a genuine Art Nouveau interior, set within striking granite walls trimmed with brick.



The original medieval church stood on the eastern bank of the Nossan river, close to what is said to be Sweden's largest stone burial cist, but was destroyed by fire in 1905. The present building was erected on the opposite, western bank in 1910 to designs by architect Gustaf Améen, working in the National Romantic style then popular in Sweden. Its walls of exposed granite, decorated with brick detailing, give the exterior a rugged, textured character.

The church's layout follows a north–south orientation, with a rounded chancel apse to the north recalling medieval church design, and a four-storey tower to the south. A sacristy extension sits beside the chancel on the western side. The nave roof is covered in slate, while the tower is clad in copper.

Inside, exposed roof trusses, pews, chancel and gallery combine to create a harmonious Art Nouveau interior, with characteristic detailing such as latticework and fluting. Decorative paintings in the chancel were added in 1923 by Yngve Lundström. A restoration in 1977 is said to have brightened the interior without altering its original character.

Several older objects survived the 1905 fire and were incorporated into the new church. The font's medieval bowl came from the old building, paired with a newly made base; it was reportedly rediscovered at Ribbingsberg. A wooden door with wrought-iron fittings, thought to date from the fourteenth century, was rescued from the flames, as was a set of medieval communion silver, which had chanced to be stored with a churchwarden at the time of the fire. Above the font hangs a textile hanging depicting a dove resting in its nest, intended to evoke the security a Christian is said to find in baptism.

The church also houses a small pneumatic organ built in 1939 by Olof Hammarberg, with a plain, non-speaking façade; an inventory in 2014 noted that it was no longer playable.

Opening hours

Opening hours have not been confirmed for the current date. This does not mean the church is closed.

Check access with the parish before travelling. Services and seasonal changes can affect visits.

Vårgårda pastorat

Södra Härene kyrka

Södra Härene kyrka stands roughly six kilometres north of Vårgårda, in the Skara diocese. Built in 1910 after fire destroyed its predecessor, it is one of the few churches in the diocese to feature a genuine Art Nouveau interior, set within striking granite walls trimmed with brick.

Kungsgatan 43

Explore this church: Södra Härene kyrka

Church information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.

Other churches in the same diocese

Sources & credits

Provider catalogue data: Svenska kyrkan, Platser, CC BY 4.0. Separately credited descriptions retain their stated source and licence terms. Catalogue and visiting data reformatted from the provider. The English guide combines and abridges separately credited sources below.

Provider record updated: 21 Sep 2023. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: 5b8d5bbb-5b8e-469e-9014-f124a2612c7f

Guide sources

This English guide combines, abridges and translates the sources below with AI assistance, with editorial contributions by Churches in Sweden. It has not been independently verified. The adapted guide text is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photographs and map data have their own terms.

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Church data retrieved 24 Sep 2026. Visiting details have not been independently verified.

Sources, licences & reuse

Independent guide

Churches in Sweden is an independent guide. It is not an official Svenska kyrkan website and does not imply sponsorship or endorsement.

Church information

Source: Svenska kyrkan — Platser, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. English adaptations by Churches in Sweden are identified on each profile. Our adaptations solely from Platser are offered under CC BY 4.0. Guides combining Wikipedia with other compatible sources are identified individually and offered under CC BY-SA 4.0; this covers that guide text, not the whole website. Separately credited third-party material retains its stated terms. Independently written descriptions are identified on their profiles. Imported material has not been independently verified. Original names and visiting details are retained; presentation is reformatted. Each profile identifies its source record and any additional supplied credits.

You may reuse the licensed church material under CC BY 4.0, including commercially, with the required attribution, licence link and indication of changes. No additional site restriction overrides those rights. The licence does not automatically cover separately credited images or map data.

Provider disclaimer

Svenska kyrkan supplies Platser data without guaranteeing that it is correct, current, complete across its organisation, or always available. The material is provided as-is and as-available, subject to the licence’s disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability.

Svenska kyrkan kan ej garantera att den data som finns i Platser:
– är korrekt.
– är aktuell.
– är komplett för hela Svenska kyrkans organisation.
– alltid är tillgänglig.

Preserved provider agreement · Full licence

Automatic diocese associations use the organisation codes from Svenska kyrkan UnitAPI. An association does not establish ownership or denomination. External editorial sources are credited separately.

Map and photographs

Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL and © OpenMapTiles. Tiles and style are served by World Class Maps. Map rendering uses MapLibre GL JS. The map’s own attribution remains visible.

Photographs are credited individually with their own licence or permission. The API data licence does not automatically cover photographs. No images are imported automatically.