Djurö kyrka

Djurö kyrka

Djurö Church is situated by Kyrkviken on Djurö, a few kilometres past the Djurö bridge.

History

The church was consecrated in 1683 by vicar Ericus Noraeus. Alderman Joseph Månsson initiated the building of the church, and when he died in 1682 the construction was in full progress. The work of building Djurö Church was completed by Månsson's family, above all by his son Erich Furugren.

The church building

The church is built of horizontal timber on a rendered stone foundation. It consists of a rectangular room and has had two extensions added. The northern extension is the sacristy, and the southern one, which was originally the church porch, now houses a beautiful light-bearer (candle holder). Beneath the southern extension a burial vault was built, where Captain Furugren was interred in 1700. Above the church porch a gallery was installed, the so-called pilots' gallery. The church seats 150 people.

Furnishings

The altarpiece is as old as the church itself, that is, from 1683. It is a woodwork piece in rustic baroque style, painted in light blue and red, white and gold; the central section depicts Christ in Gethsemane. He is surrounded by angels holding the instruments of the Passion, and at the bottom the sleeping Peter and Mary Magdalene can be glimpsed.

The pulpit dates from the 1830s and is probably contemporary with the current gallery. Both works were part of the 1835–1838 restoration, during which the older pulpit was discarded.

The church has five crucifixes. One of them is a larger crucifix of South German or Austrian origin. It has been dated to around 1500 and hangs above the entrance to the sacristy.

Votive ships

The votive ship hanging in the nave, "Nordstiern", was made in 1706. It was given away in the 19th century as a gift to the Swedish History Museum (Statens historiska museum). After several representations, it came back into the parish's possession in 1933. In 1928 the church was given a model of the barque Ragnar Harald from the mid-19th century, now placed in the chancel.

The churchyard

During the first half of the 17th century there were two churchyards, one at the current site and the other further away at Djurhamn. The current churchyard is enclosed by a wooden fence and has been extended several times. A circular memorial grove lies in the part of the churchyard added in 1986.

Bell tower and church bells

The current red-painted bell tower with white hatches was built in 1835–1836 and stands north of the church. The two bells were cast in 1908 by J A Beckman & Co in Stockholm. Since 1940 the bells have been rung electrically.

The old small iron bell from 1705 was purchased by the Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet) in 1909. Its inscription highlights Djurö Church as an early seamen's church: "They who praise the Highest's grace on the wide sea. To show their gratitude to this his chapel. Wanted to give that bell from four ships King Oloff, Cronor tree, Hedvig Victoria."