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Petruskyrkan

Address
Angantyrvägen 39, Djursholm
Municipality
Danderyds Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Stockholm

Petruskyrkan is a twentieth-century parish church in Stocksund, just north of Stockholm, consecrated in 1962. Designed by architect Jan Wahlman and set upon a rocky outcrop, it is known locally as "the church on the cliff" for its striking relationship with the landscape.



The idea of building a church in Stocksund was first discussed as early as 1918, but it took decades of local effort, including a sewing circle and a dedicated church-building association, before plans took firm shape. In 1957 the project gained momentum, and both Peter Celsing and Jan Wahlman were invited to submit designs. Wahlman's proposal, later revised, was approved in 1960. Notably, his father, architect Lars Israel Wahlman, had suggested as early as 1921 that a chapel in Stocksund should echo the parish's main church, Danderyd Church, on a smaller scale. Construction began in the autumn of 1961, and the finished building was consecrated on the first Sunday of Advent in 1962.

The church was designed to appear as though growing directly out of the rock on which it stands, its form shaped by the strongly undulating terrain of the surrounding villa district. It rests on a natural stone base, with copper-clad roofs and brick walls laid in a monk bond pattern. The architect described his aim as creating a light-filled interior marked by simplicity and honesty in the choice of materials and finishes. Originally built as separate structures around an open courtyard, the church and parish hall were joined together in a 1988 rebuilding, connected by a covered outdoor arcade.

The chancel is dominated by a large glass cross created by artist Dagmar Lodén, a distinctive modern focal point within the otherwise restrained interior. The oak font was made by furniture maker Jörgen Andersson, paired with a silver bowl by silversmith Bengt Liljedahl, who also crafted the communion vessels.

A notable older object hangs above the font: a medieval crucifix, its figure of Christ dated to around 1350, though the cross itself, decorated with symbols of the four evangelists, is thought to be of later date. This juxtaposition of medieval imagery within a resolutely modern building is one of the church's more memorable details.

The two church bells were cast in 1962 by the Bergholtz foundry in Sigtuna. The mechanical organ, built in 1967 by A. Magnussons Orgelbyggeri of Gothenburg, was constructed from Yugoslav oak to designs by architect Jan Wahlman himself, tying the instrument visually to the building it serves.

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.

Danderyds församling

Petruskyrkan

Petruskyrkan is a twentieth-century parish church in Stocksund, just north of Stockholm, consecrated in 1962. Designed by architect Jan Wahlman and set upon a rocky outcrop, it is known locally as "the church on the cliff" for its striking relationship with the landscape.

Angantyrvägen 39, Djursholm

Explore this church: Petruskyrkan

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

Other churches in the same diocese

Basic listing

Stora Sköndals kyrka

Stora Sköndals kyrka stands on a rocky rise above Lake Drevviken, within the grounds of the Stora Sköndal Foundation in southern Stockholm. Consecrated in 1929, it was designed by architect Hakon Ahlberg and remains a…

Hjalmar Danells väg 1, Sköndal

View church details: Stora Sköndals kyrka
Basic listing

Enskede kyrka

Consecrated in 1915. Designed by Carl Bergsten. Financed through public fundraising. The church as a whole is a place of interest, carefully worked out in every detail.

Björkvägen 18

View church details: Enskede kyrka

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: 11 Mar 2025. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: eeafec64-2f08-44d7-8d93-045ad32ef7b0

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.