Gestad kyrka

The church belonged to a particular group of seven medieval churches in Dalsland that were built of brick. By the end of the 18th century, the church had become too small for the growing population and was also considered to be in poor condition. The current stone church was therefore built in 1795-99 under the direction of master builder Lars Westman. The design used was a proposal drawn up by master mason Sven Hertz of Karlstad for an extension of the old church, which was partly revised by the Office of the Superintendent (Överintendentämbetet). During construction, parts of the old church's bricks were reused, among other things for door and window surrounds. The church's exterior is intact, with the exception of the large arched window openings from 1876. Characteristic of the church are its powerful tower with its flat roof and the tall sacristy. Also unusual is the staircase that leads directly up into the tower from its south side. Above the tower door there is a plaque with the text: "Gestad's church, through the efforts of rural dean E M Florelii, the zeal of cavalry captain A Aminoff and the unity of Gestad parish, built over 4 years. Was consecrated on 1/1 1800." The church interior is bright, with tastefully restrained furnishings in a classicising style, mainly created during various renovations in the 20th century. In the chancel there was originally a so-called altar pulpit, designed as a semicircular projection in a small manorial gallery with direct access to the sacristy. Worth seeing inside Particularly prominent is the altarpiece, which is designed as a temple gable. It was created in 1913-14 and designed by architect Hjalmar Tessing of Skara. The altarpiece forms the framework for a large altar painting depicting the sinking Peter being saved by Jesus. The painting was made by the artist Theodor Wallström of Lödöse, and is a copy of a lithograph from 1833 by the German artist B Plockhorst. At the bottom of the painting are the words "Lord, help me." The relatively simple pulpit is contemporary with the altarpiece and was designed by the same architect. Among the fonts of Dalsland, the Gestad font is considered to be especially magnificent. It was made in the 13th century in Västergötland, and the bowl is decorated at the top with palmettes in a ribbon scroll forming heart-shaped ornaments. The churchyard Along the western churchyard wall stand a number of wrought-iron grave crosses. Also note the pictorial gravestone in the southern sacristy wall. The mortuary at the north-eastern corner of the churchyard was built in 1957.