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Bottnaryds kyrka

Address
Kyrkvägen 12, 56576, BOTTNARYD
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Skara

Bottnaryds kyrka is a wooden church west of Jönköping, built in 1667 to replace a medieval church that stood on the same site. Set beside a lake, it is known for its extensive 17th-century painted interior and a small museum with links to Sweden's American colonial history.



The medieval timber church was demolished in May 1666, and its replacement, painted red, was consecrated the following year. A medieval stone sacristy survived initially but was later removed during 19th-century rebuilding work overseen by the architect Helgo Zettervall, when a new sacristy was created within the old Ribbing family burial chapel.

Between 1693 and 1695 the church painter Anders Falck, working from Bogesund (now Ulricehamn), covered the walls and ceiling with scenes depicting the biblical story of salvation, from the Creation to the Last Judgement and the heavenly Jerusalem above the altar. Moses and Aaron flank the altarpiece in the chancel, while the Old and New Testaments are illustrated along the south and north walls respectively. The oak pulpit dates from 1670 and was decorated to match by Falck in 1694, though this colour scheme was removed during renovation in the 1880s; visitors are often amused by an inscription on the pulpit stair rail.

A free-standing bell tower was built in 1686 and houses three bells, two of which are thought to be medieval; one bell is still rung by hand on occasion. The sandstone font is believed to date from the 13th century, with a brass basin added around 1600.

A small museum in the former burial chapel holds mementoes connected to Johan Printz, a governor of the short-lived Swedish colony in Delaware during the 17th century, who had family ties to Bottnaryd and is thought to be buried beneath the church's south transept. The museum displays portraits of Printz and his wife, along with model ships recalling the voyage to New Sweden.

A 2013 renovation introduced new furnishings, including an oak and olive-wood altar table with carved symbols of the four evangelists, and created a bright side room known as the Oasis at the rear of the church, along with a children's play area in the north transept. The origin of the date 1663 on the tower's weather vane is uncertain.

Opening hours

Opening hours have not been confirmed for the current date. This does not mean the church is closed.

Additional opening information is awaiting translation. Check the official visitor-information link before travelling.

Check access with the parish before travelling. Services and seasonal changes can affect visits.

Facilities & accessibility

  • Parking
  • Toilet
  • Café
  • Hearing loop
  • Ramp
  • Accessible toilet

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

A listed ramp does not confirm step-free access throughout the building.

Norra Mo församling

Bottnaryds kyrka

Bottnaryds kyrka is a wooden church west of Jönköping, built in 1667 to replace a medieval church that stood on the same site. Set beside a lake, it is known for its extensive 17th-century painted interior and a small museum with links to Sweden's American colonial history.

Kyrkvägen 12, 56576, BOTTNARYD

Explore this church: Bottnaryds 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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Lagmansereds kyrka

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Brandstorps kyrka

Brandstorps kyrka is a distinctive wooden church in Habo kommun, Jönköpings län, notable for its cruciform layout and the timber fence that still encloses its churchyard. This guide draws on local and Wikipedia sources to…

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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: 25 Jun 2025. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: f2db76b4-ed74-4f47-a1f8-9eac57735179

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.