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Sankt Pauli kyrka

Address
Mäster Johansgatan 1, 416 63, Göteborg
Municipality
Göteborgs stad
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Göteborg

Sankt Pauli kyrka stands beside Redbergsplatsen in the Olskroken district of Gothenburg. Consecrated in 1882, it has served generations of worshippers and remains one of the city's notable red-brick churches, built in a modified Romanesque style.



The church was built between 1880 and 1882 to a design by the Gothenburg architect Adrian C. Peterson, and was consecrated on 15 January 1882. It was the only one of Peterson's churches to result from a public competition, and construction was funded entirely through private donations, chiefly the Renström fund. The hill on which it stands, known as Höga Lyckan, was given to Gothenburg's cathedral chapter by a local naval officer. The building was originally to be called Redbergskyrkan, but the city council settled on Sankt Pauli kyrka in 1881.

The church's tower rises 46 metres and is flanked by four smaller turrets, a detail that distinguishes its interpretation of Romanesque style. Built of red brick, the church measures roughly 36 by 23 metres. It could originally seat around 1,200 people; following later renovation the capacity was reduced, with sources differing on the current figure, variously given as about half the original or as low as 600.

Four major renovations have taken place, in 1916-1917, 1941, 1969-1970 and 2009, the last under architect Erika von Geijer, which included the creation of a larger forecourt in front of the church.

Among the church's furnishings is a Christ figure above the altar, a copy of Bertel Thorvaldsen's celebrated Christus in Vor Frue Kirke, Copenhagen. It had previously stood in the Kjellberg Girls' School before being installed here; sources differ as to whether it is a marble copy or a plaster cast, and its date of installation is variously given. The sandstone font is the work of the sculptor Ninnan Santesson, one of several artists who contributed decoration to the interior. Below the church stands a fountain, Elementens kamp (The Struggle of the Elements) by Anders Jönsson, originally sited on nearby Olskrokstorget before being moved and re-erected here in 1971.

The church has had a series of organs, the present mechanical instrument dating from 1969-1970 and later adapted for choral and congregational singing; a smaller organ in the chapel is said to have travelled between several Gothenburg churches before arriving at Sankt Pauli.

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
  • Wi-Fi
  • 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.

Örgryte pastorat

Sankt Pauli kyrka

Sankt Pauli kyrka stands beside Redbergsplatsen in the Olskroken district of Gothenburg. Consecrated in 1882, it has served generations of worshippers and remains one of the city's notable red-brick churches, built in a modified Romanesque style.

Mäster Johansgatan 1, 416 63, Göteborg

Explore this church: Sankt Pauli 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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FÖRSAMLINGSHEMMET, 51193, TORESTORP

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Mästocka kapell

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Rya kyrka

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View church details: Rya 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: 5 Jun 2026. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: 23ef760e-8644-4db3-861e-2f22b3edcbb0

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.