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Södra Åsarps kyrka

Address
Södra Åsarps kyrka
Municipality
Tranemo Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Göteborg

Södra Åsarps kyrka, just north of Limmared in Västra Götaland, is thought to date from the late 12th century. This stone church, built in Romanesque style, retains furnishings and wall paintings that reveal centuries of continuous use and adaptation.



The church's oldest parts are the nave and the narrower, straight-ended chancel to the east, both dating from around the late 1100s. A timber porch was added at the west end in the 19th century, and the nave ceiling has a wooden barrel vault, while the chancel retains its original stone vault along with a surviving window opening and niche.

Among the most striking survivals is the sandstone font, carved from a single block and probably dating from the later 12th century. Its relief frieze includes a crucifix scene in which Christ is shown treading on evil, alongside strange beasts and a bird rendered in flat relief. When a new pulpit by the sculptor Anders Ekeberg was installed in 1744, the medieval font was reused as its base, remaining hidden beneath the pulpit for almost two centuries until it was restored to independent use during renovations in the 1920s.

The chancel contains wall paintings from the early 15th century depicting scenes from the Passion, and the nave has further fragmentary painted scenes. One theory links these decorations to a wedding held in January 1407 at the nearby Opensten stronghold, between Ture Stensson (Bielke) and Birgitta Abrahamsdotter (Tjurhuvud), suggesting the church may have been adorned in preparation for the occasion — though this remains a proposed interpretation rather than a certainty.

A major restoration in 1933, overseen by the county architect Allan Berglund, reinstated the triumphal arch between nave and chancel, which had earlier been demolished, and introduced new pews and heating. A further restoration in 1953 saw the medieval wall paintings conserved. The chancel's east window holds stained glass from 1929, designed by Albert Eldh.

Outside, a freestanding wooden bell tower stands to the north-east of the church, holding a single late-medieval bell without inscription. The organ's case dates from an instrument built in 1913 by Anders Petter Loocrantz, though the current mechanism was made in 1987.

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.

Facilities & accessibility

  • Toilet
  • Hearing loop

Listed by the provider; availability has not been independently checked. An unlisted facility is not necessarily unavailable.

Toilet: there is a toilet in the sexton's/caretaker's building (vaktmästeriet).

Accessibility

A ramp outside is due to be completed shortly, expected by spring 2020.
Induction loop: The venue has a hearing loop.

Länghems församling

Södra Åsarps kyrka

Södra Åsarps kyrka, just north of Limmared in Västra Götaland, is thought to date from the late 12th century. This stone church, built in Romanesque style, retains furnishings and wall paintings that reveal centuries of continuous use and adaptation.

Södra Åsarps kyrka

Explore this church: Södra Åsarps kyrka

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

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Basic listing

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Grimmareds kyrka

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Mjöbäcks kyrka

Mjöbäcks kyrka is a wooden church in Mjöbäck, Svenljunga municipality, built in 1851 after its predecessor across the road had been condemned following inspection. Standing on a new site near the village, it remains the…

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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: 13 Sep 2023. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: 44dd4f06-717e-4411-99da-19ddbc800bb2

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.

Suggest a correction

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.