Biskopsgårdens kyrka

Biskopsgårdens kyrka

Biskopsgårdens kyrka was completed in 1961 to designs by architect Johannes Olivegren and was consecrated by Bishop Bo Giertz on 26 February the same year. The glass mosaic forming the altarpiece is nine metres high and depicts the Tree of Life. It was made by the artist Ralph Bergholtz and Randi Fischer, with whom Johannes Olivegren collaborated on several projects (including Björkekärrs kyrka and Betlehemskyrkan in Gothenburg).

Until then, the parish's activities had been conducted in rented premises in a couple of the newly built residential buildings.

When it was built, Södra Biskopsgårdens kyrka was considered to have a bold and unconventional exterior, and it still forms a distinctive part of the townscape around Vårväderstorget. The building's construction and choice of materials were highly advanced for the time. The rounded forms in the altar cross recur in the light fittings throughout the space and are intended to give a welcoming impression.

The entrance facing Vårvädersgatan

Above the doors is a glass mosaic; when the lighting inside the church is on, Jesus's welcoming arms can be seen, and to the right of them His own words: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This is in fact the church's motto and has found symbolic expression in many ways inside the church. It can be seen in the curved form of the light fittings, the design of the altar crucifix, and the pattern on the vestments used by the priest during services.

The altar

The altar stone is of black granite and bears five consecration crosses symbolising Jesus's five wounds.

The altar crucifix

Behind the altar stands the altar crucifix on a pole. The figure of Christ here is very simplified, but even here we meet Jesus's welcoming and blessing arms. It can be used as a processional cross.

The mosaic window in the chancel

The mosaic window with its image of the vine dominates the church interior. The Lord of the church himself says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches" (John 15:4), and with this he wishes to emphasise the intimate and vital fellowship between himself and his disciples.

In the lower part of the window several Christian symbols can be seen, including the Christ monogram IHS, an hourglass, two fish and five loaves of barley bread. In the ceiling above the altar, small triangles form a consecration cross. This is a reminder that this space is set apart to be used, after consecration, only for worship and devotion.

The pulpit

The relief on the side of the pulpit illustrates the parable of the different types of soil: "... and other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold" (Luke 8:8).

The font

The lower part of the font is decorated with cast spikes symbolising the evil powers from which we are saved through baptism. The silver baptismal bowl stands on a brass cross. Within the font there is a piscina through which the baptismal water is united with the church's foundations. Beside the font stands a brass baptismal candlestick whose design symbolises the Trinity. It was purchased with donated funds and designed and made by the artist Trond Smerstad.

The church silver

The communion silver was designed by the silversmith Sven-Erik Högberg. The violet amethysts on the lids of the jug and the wafer box represent the colour of penitence.

The bridal crown, whose points have the same shape as the church's bell tower, is adorned with amethysts and rock crystals. It was donated by the Vårväderstorget business association and designed and made by goldsmith Agne Sahlin.

The gates facing Vårväderstorget

At the entrance from Vårväderstorget there are church gates. Cast into the panels of the gates are illustrations of several of Jesus's parables of the kingdom of heaven. Among them is the parable of the sower and the four kinds of soil, "A sower went out to sow..." (Luke 8:5); the net cast into the sea, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea..." (Matthew 13:47); and the ten virgins, "But five of them were wise, and five were foolish" (Matthew 25:2). Also depicted are the parable of the labourers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:15), the treasure in the field (Matthew 13:44), the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46), the mustard seed that becomes the greatest among herbs (Matthew 13:31-32), and the parable of the tares among the wheat, "... but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat..." (Matthew 13:24-30).

Church bells

The bells, which can also be seen through the chancel window from inside the church, bear the following texts:

The middle bell (lowest): "Sing unto the Lord a new song" (Isaiah 42:10)

The great bell (in the middle): "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10)

The small bell (uppermost): "The Saviour has come, peace on earth the Lord commanded" (Swedish hymn book 1937, hymn 21, verse 3)

The church weathercock

The weathercock at the top of the church tower has an original form and is a symbol of the Christian person's watchfulness and hope of eternity.

Alterations

The parish section, with an open atrium courtyard, was originally built with a gently sloping roof clad in copper sheeting, which continued as a metal cornice down to the top of the windows. In 1989-93 alterations and an extension took place involving several exterior changes. The roof was given a steeper pitch and the eaves were extended out over a panel-clad cornice. At the same time, the atrium courtyard was covered over with a raised roof lantern. Certain offsets in the façade that had been characteristic of the building disappeared as a result of local extensions.

In November 2004, Södra Biskopsgårdens kyrka was reconsecrated following yet another rebuilding and extension, when a larger part of the parish's activities were relocated here, while Norra Biskopsgårdens kyrka was decommissioned.

The spaciousness of the church interior is reflected in the colourful glass mosaic by the artist Ralph Bergholtz that forms the altarpiece - the Tree of Life. In part of the church there is a large stone that is popular with many visitors; here there is a sense of calm as water ripples, and one can light one's own candle. The space is a reminder of how we can experience God as a strong rock and as living water.

Source: https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/lundby/om-biskopsgardens-kyrka