Bygdsiljums kyrka is a twentieth-century church building in Bygdsiljum, in Burträsk parish, Västerbotten. Built by local villagers during a period of religious revival, it has been altered repeatedly over the decades and, as of recent reports, faces an uncertain future.
The origins of the church lie in a wave of religious revival that swept the district in 1919, prompting local people to establish a foundation to build a place of worship. Villagers donated timber and their own labour to construct the building, designed by Edvard Lundqvist of Umeå. Services began in the still-unfinished chapel in December 1922, though the formal consecration did not take place until 7 July 1924.
The original building had a ridge turret in a style close to Art Nouveau, with a gallery behind the altar and dark wood panelling. This arrangement did not survive long: a bell brought from Skellefteå in 1928 proved too heavy for the turret, so a separate bell tower was built instead. During the winter of 1944–45 the chapel housed refugees from Finland, and the wear this caused led to a renovation the following autumn, when the altar gallery was removed and the altar relocated into a newly vaulted niche, with the interior repainted in lighter colours.
A more substantial rebuilding in 1952–54 saw both the turret and the freestanding bell tower demolished, replaced by a new timber tower in Gothic style with a tarred shingle roof, its ground floor fitted out with cloakrooms and toilets. The building was handed over to Burträsk parish in 1959 and thereafter referred to as a church rather than a chapel, triggering further alterations: a cast-iron stove was removed in favour of oil-fired water heating around 1960–61, and in 1970 the altar and altar rail were replaced with new ones in light wood, with the walls covered in painted fabric.
According to Swedish Wikipedia, dry rot (hussvamp) was discovered in the building in December 2024, leading to its immediate closure. Initial estimates suggested repairs could cost more than five million kronor. By March 2026, the parish council reportedly concluded that demolition would be the cheaper option, estimated at around one million kronor against roughly four million for renovation — though no final decision is recorded in the sources available here.
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.
Burträsks församling
Burträsks församling
Bygdsiljums kyrka is a twentieth-century church building in Bygdsiljum, in Burträsk parish, Västerbotten. Built by local villagers during a period of religious revival, it has been altered repeatedly over the decades and, as of recent reports, faces an uncertain future.
Postvägen 7, 937 33, Bygdsiljum
Explore this church: Bygdsiljums kyrkaChurch information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.
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Prästgårdsvägen 18, 932 61, Lövånger
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Marknadsvägen 1, 98191, Jukkasjärvi
View church details: Jukkasjärvi kyrkaSources, credits and English adaptations are identified on each church page. Provider data: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0.
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: 11 Oct 2023. This is not an independent verification date.
Source record: 8a8593ca-e597-4c68-b8db-fbb01cdf4958
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.