Olov Hartmans studiokyrka is a small timber church now standing beside Mariakyrkan in Sigtuna, within Sigtuna parish. Originally built as an experimental studio chapel, it has an unusual history of relocation and renaming that reflects its distinctive purpose within Swedish church life.
The building was constructed in 1966 to a design by the architect Rolf Bergh, on land next to the rectory adjoining the Sigtuna Foundation. It was created as a studio space for that year's conference on church architecture and church art, and went on to serve as a workshop for Olov Hartman and director Tuve Nyström's experimental church drama work between 1967 and 1970, during which several new dramatic texts were developed.
The chapel began life as a gift from the master builder Anders Diös to Olov Hartman, then director of the Sigtuna Foundation. In 1979 Hartman donated the building to Sigtuna parish, and it was moved to a park area in Östra Til, beside the Munkebo preschool. It was consecrated there on 4 February 1979 by rural dean Einar Råberger and named Tilkyrkan; a separate bell tower was added and consecrated in 1982.
Architecturally, the church is a prefabricated, transportable building, said to echo the form of a Sami lappkåta (a traditional tent-like dwelling). Its square interior has no fixed fittings, giving it considerable flexibility of use, and the corners are formed entirely of windows, with a further band of glazing running beneath the pyramid-shaped roof. According to Bergh, this was intended to express the absence of load-bearing walls, since the structure is instead supported by four laminated timber arches.
The building has a notable place in the development of Swedish church life: many services in the Church of Sweden today use liturgical forms that were first shaped and tested within this small studio chapel.
When a new preschool was planned for the Östra Til site, the church was moved again, this time to its current position beside Mariakyrkan in Sigtuna. It reopened on 13 September 2014 under its present name, Olov Hartmans studiokyrka, commemorating the man who had first given it to the parish.
Today the building continues to serve varied parish purposes, including choir activities, youth and educational projects, civil funerals, and services of worship and reflection.
Opening hours have not been confirmed for the current date. This does not mean the church is closed.
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Sigtuna församling
Sigtuna församling
Olov Hartmans studiokyrka is a small timber church now standing beside Mariakyrkan in Sigtuna, within Sigtuna parish. Originally built as an experimental studio chapel, it has an unusual history of relocation and renaming that reflects its distinctive purpose within Swedish church life.
Stenvretsvägen 1, 19332, Sigtuna
Explore this church: Olov Hartmans studiokyrkaChurch information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.
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View church details: Sankt Ansgars kyrkaLocation and available visiting information. A fuller English guide is still to be added.
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Nathan Söderbloms plan / Odinslund
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Almunge församlingsgård 7, 74010, Almunge
View church details: Bladåkers 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: 12 Mar 2025. This is not an independent verification date.
Source record: 68264b3a-7810-41f1-a466-314394776666
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.