Säve kyrka, on the outskirts of Göteborg, is believed to date from the early 13th century, though it was later extended and given remarkable painted ceilings in the 18th century that remain its chief attraction today.
The church was originally dedicated to the Norwegian saint-king Olof Haraldsson, and its early history is thinly documented. Sources suggest it was consecrated on 2 November, though the year is unknown and only assumed to fall in the early 1200s. From this period survive the stone font and parts of the exterior walls; roughly two-thirds of the nave is thought to be medieval in origin.
The building was altered considerably over the centuries: a vaulted ceiling was added in 1696, the chancel was rebuilt and lengthened in 1729, a porch was built in 1746, and a timber tower followed in 1750. The font, carved from soapstone and attributed to a medieval craftsman known as Thorkillus, is decorated with spiral acanthus and leaf ornament and remains in largely undamaged condition.
The church's most distinctive feature is its painted wooden ceiling, divided into large square panels depicting scenes from the Creation through to the Resurrection and Ascension, with the Trinity shown in the chancel. The earlier paintings were created in 1704 by the German-trained painter Christian von Schönfeldt, working from illustrated Bibles, and the sequence was completed in matching style in 1737 by Johan Ross after the chancel extension. Schönfeldt's confident use of colour and naturalistic landscape backgrounds set his work apart from many contemporaries, and the ensemble is considered unusual among churches in the region.
Other furnishings reflect several periods: the altarpiece was made in the 1670s though repainted later, and the pulpit, dated to around 1700, was decorated a few years afterwards, again believed to be Schönfeldt's work. The gallery front carries painted images of apostles and prophets, likely from the same hand, though the woodwork itself was renewed in the mid-19th century.
The church has been repeatedly restored, notably in 1934, when a new sacristy was built and later overpainting was removed to reveal the original 18th-century decoration, and again in 1984 and 2005, when the ceiling paintings received further conservation work.
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Säve kyrka, on the outskirts of Göteborg, is believed to date from the early 13th century, though it was later extended and given remarkable painted ceilings in the 18th century that remain its chief attraction today.
Svensbyvägen 2, 423 71, Säve
Explore this church: Säve kyrkaChurch information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.
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View church details: Gunnarps 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: 18 Sep 2026. This is not an independent verification date.
Source record: 4cd336f7-c5f6-4362-9ac5-4eb08c0a8c7f
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.