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Östra Sönnarslövs kyrka

Address
Skaddevägen 8A, 29731, Degeberga
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Lund

Östra Sönnarslövs kyrka is a medieval parish church in the village of Östra Sönnarslöv in Skåne, part of the Degeberga-Everöd parish. Though much altered over the centuries, it retains striking survivals from its earliest days, including remarkable painted vaults in the chancel.



The church was originally built in the 12th century, one of hundreds erected across Skåne during that period. Its broad west tower is as wide as the nave itself, a distinctive feature of the original structure. Vaults were added to the church in the 15th century, reflecting a common phase of medieval remodelling in the region.

A major rebuilding in 1861–1862 transformed the church considerably: the medieval nave and its vaults were demolished, and two long transepts were added to the north and south. The chancel's apse was also removed and replaced with a straight wall. As a result, only the chancel and tower now survive from the original medieval building.

Further changes came during a 1964–1965 restoration, when the transepts were shortened to create a porch to the south and a mortuary room to the north. The 19th-century vaults were removed and replaced with a new wooden ceiling, and a new limestone altar was installed along with a widened altar rail. It was during this restoration that late-medieval wall paintings were rediscovered in the chancel.

The chancel vault paintings are the church's most celebrated feature, depicting four saints — Saint Olof, Saint Barbara, Saint Knut and Saint Gertrude — each shown wearing a saintly crown and holding their attributes, surrounded by decorative foliage. The paintings are attributed to the so-called Vittskövle Master and are thought to date from the later 15th century, possibly the 1460s. In one corner, a face among the ornamentation is believed by some to be a self-portrait of the artist.

Among the church's furnishings is a 15th-century crucifix, on loan from Everlöv church, and a pulpit dating to 1636. The font has a complicated history: it originally came from Västra Vrams kyrka before being moved to Everlöv, and its base and bowl appear to be of different ages and materials — the sandstone base is sometimes attributed to the medieval stonemason Tove, working around 1200, while the harder-stone bowl bears rope-moulding and a palmette frieze. The church's smaller bell was recast in Ystad in 1925, while an older source suggests its origins may lie in the 15th or early 16th century; the larger bell dates from 1743. The current organ was built in 1966 by the Jehmlich workshop of Dresden, replacing earlier instruments including an 18th-century organ and a harmonium acquired in 1912.

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.

Degeberga-Everöds församling

Östra Sönnarslövs kyrka

Östra Sönnarslövs kyrka is a medieval parish church in the village of Östra Sönnarslöv in Skåne, part of the Degeberga-Everöd parish. Though much altered over the centuries, it retains striking survivals from its earliest days, including remarkable painted vaults in the chancel.

Skaddevägen 8A, 29731, Degeberga

Explore this church: Östra Sönnarslövs kyrka

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

Håstads kyrka

Håstads kyrka is a red-towered parish church in the village of Håstad, part of Torns församling, around ten kilometres north of Lund. It stands in a village first recorded in a Danish royal document of…

View church details: Håstads kyrka
Basic listing

Järrestads kyrka

Järrestads kyrka, in the village of Järrestad in Skåne, is dedicated to St John (or possibly St Nicolaus) and once belonged to the Cistercian monastery at Tommarp. It is now part of Simrishamns församling in…

View church details: Järrestads 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: 21 Jul 2025. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: bb96a034-5f7d-47b5-8b1c-5736e63b2054

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.