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Törnsfalls kyrka

Address
c/o Södra Tjusts pastorat Hospitalsgatan 14, 59333, VÄSTERVIK
Municipality
Västerviks Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Linköping

Törnsfalls kyrka is a parish church in Törnsfall, in Västervik Municipality, serving Törnsfalls församling within the Diocese of Linköping. Its tower dates back to the 1100s, making it one of the older ecclesiastical buildings in this part of Kalmar län.



The church has ancient origins: the original 12th-century building survives today as the tower, while the present nave was probably constructed in the 1200s, replacing an earlier nave that may have been built of wood. Over the following centuries the building was gradually altered, with larger windows inserted at various points between 1698 and 1753, a stone sacristy replacing an earlier timber one in 1766, and the tower gaining its current spire in 1783.

The 20th century brought significant change. A major restoration in 1909–1910, overseen by architect Ragnar Östberg, saw the exterior rendering removed so the nave walls would better match the stonework of the tower. Further renovation in 1949 under Kurt von Schmalensee introduced central heating and a lighter colour scheme inside, with pews and galleries painted grey tones and the pulpit picked out in green and gilding. The building has struggled repeatedly with damp problems; a 1986 survey using a specially trained dog identified mould, rot and timber fungus, prompting a thorough renovation between 1988 and 1991 under architect Lennart Arfwidsson, which included a new floor throughout and a fresh interior colour scheme.

Among the church's furnishings is a triumphal crucifix hanging before the chancel, dated to the 1500s, and a separate altar crucifix whose figure of Christ is thought to date from the late 1200s, mounted on a more recent cross. A wooden sculpture of the Virgin and Child from the 1300s and a depiction of Saint Anne with the Virgin and Christ child from the 1400s, positioned above the sacristy door, are among the older devotional images. A shrine for relics or images from the mid-1100s is also recorded among the church's possessions.

The current pulpit was donated to the church in 1740, and the pews are believed to date from the 1760s. Communion vessels of gilded silver are of uncertain age, though the chalice is mentioned in an inventory as early as 1657; a silver wafer box is thought to have been given to the church in 1662. Two bells have hung in the tower since medieval times, the larger recast in 1785 and the smaller in 1866, with the older small bell now kept in the porch.

The church's first organ, built by Pehr Zacharias Strand of Stockholm, was installed in 1833. It was replaced by an instrument from Setterquist & Son in 1928, which retained the earlier organ case; further rebuilding took place in 1966–1967, incorporating some pipework from the original façade.

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.

Törnsfalls församling

Törnsfalls kyrka

Törnsfalls kyrka is a parish church in Törnsfall, in Västervik Municipality, serving Törnsfalls församling within the Diocese of Linköping. Its tower dates back to the 1100s, making it one of the older ecclesiastical buildings in this part of Kalmar län.

c/o Södra Tjusts pastorat Hospitalsgatan 14, 59333, VÄSTERVIK

Explore this church: Törnsfalls 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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Malexanders kyrka is a church in Malexander, in Boxholm municipality in southern Östergötland, standing on a site with recorded links to a medieval predecessor. Its neo-Gothic form dates largely from 1881, though it was rebuilt…

Kyrkovägen 3, 595 73, Boxholm

View church details: Malexanders kyrka
Basic listing

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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: 29 Jan 2024. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: a59830dc-5d56-484e-9003-22ac63a3aa01

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.