Onsala kyrka

Onsala Church was built in the 17th century. The church has a very rich interior with ceiling paintings from the 18th century. Remains of an earlier medieval church can be found in the church walls.

The pulpit tells the history of Christ's passion

The pulpit is one of the church's oldest furnishings. It has texts in Danish and Latin and was made before Halland became Swedish in 1658. The pulpit has sculptures and paintings that tell the history of Christ's passion. The original colours have faded somewhat, since the pulpit was previously overpainted with white oil paint.

Altarpiece in Baroque style

The altarpiece in Baroque style was made by Marcus Jäger. The central section depicts Christ on the cross, surrounded by beautiful gold-coloured leaves. Below it is a relief depicting the Last Supper. At the top lies a lamb with the banner of the cross on a book with seven seals, a symbol taken from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Bible.

The font

The font is from 1705. It was donated to the church by the skippers Anders and Oluff Knape.

Ceiling paintings from the 18th century

If you raise your gaze, you will see the church's beautiful ceiling paintings. The subdued colours and the beautiful composition make them the church's foremost work of art. The ceiling paintings were probably made by Sven Wernberg in the early 18th century.

The ceiling paintings are divided into four fields. Above the chancel, the Father and the Son are enthroned over all the heavens. The outer fields show motifs from the Old and New Testaments and give a picture of the history of salvation. The northern side depicts events from the Old Testament, the time of the promises, and the southern side shows the fulfilment of the promises in the New Testament.

Church angel

In the chancel hovers the church angel Michael. He holds a tablet in his hand, and on the tablet appears the text "Rise, ye dead, and come before judgement."

Chandeliers and votive ships adorn the centre aisle

Over the centre aisle hang three chandeliers of brass. The first chandelier was donated to the church in 1675, the middle one in 1706, and the rear one is, according to tradition, donated by Ingela Gathenhielm's father, Captain Olof Hammar.

Between the chandeliers hang two votive ships. One ship, Anna, is an East Indiaman. The other, Janni, is a full-rigged ship. Votive ships, also called church ships, are model ships intended to hang from the ceiling or on the walls in churches. Both ships in Onsala Church are gifts donated to the church during the 19th century.

Church bells

Onsala Church has two church bells. The large bell is from 1540 and was later recast at the church green in Onsala. The small bell is from 1740. It was made by the bell founder Fris from Jönköping.

The Gathenhielm burial chancel

The eastern tower was built in the 18th century. In the Gathenhielm burial chancel in the basement rest the privateer captain Lars Gathenhielm and his wife in two marble coffins.

Church porch

In the south-western church porch there are several gravestones commemorating notable residents of Onsala from the 17th and 18th centuries.