Ansgarskapellet is a small chapel on the island of Björkö in Ekerö municipality, built to honour the memory of the monk Ansgar, who is said to have brought Christianity to Sweden during the ninth century.
The idea for the chapel came from Johan Ögrim, commander of the Salvation Army, who put forward the proposal in 1919. Archbishop Nathan Söderblom supported the plan and helped ensure it was realised. The chapel was built to mark the centenary of the raising of the Ansgar monument and the 1100th anniversary of Ansgar's arrival at Birka, and it was consecrated in 1930.
The building was designed by the architect Lars Israel Wahlman, with the medieval parish churches of the region as his model. It is built of reddish-brown sandstone quarried from the nearby island of Midsommar, and its combined nave and chancel form an unusual plan said to resemble a church bell opening towards the west. Two projecting buttresses at the western end frame an open bell turret, and the deep apse in the east stands several steps above the nave floor, with a sacristy below.
Inside, the flat ceiling carries ornamental painting in white and gold, while the domed vault of the apse and the surrounding walls are covered with narrative scenes. Murals in the apse, depicting a vision associated with Ansgar, were painted by Olle Hjortzberg, and the paintings on either side, along with scenes from the Ansgar chronicle on the copper-clad interior and the chapel doors, are the work of Gunnar Torhamn.
Three large bronze sculptures by Carl Eldh stand in the chancel: one showing Ansgar blessing Birka, and two others representing figures connected with the mission there. The chapel also contains a font of whitened oak with a lockable lid, gilded wooden chandeliers designed by Wahlman himself, and a small mechanical organ with five stops, originally built in 1801 for a church in Dalarna and later installed here in 1930.
Funding for the building was raised partly through the sale of a specially produced illustrated Bible, each copy signed by Archbishop Söderblom, a fundraising device that reflects the chapel's origins as a project of both church and public devotion.
Opening hours have not been confirmed for the current date. This does not mean the church is closed.
The church is open for visits throughout the summer. Summer church 6 July–2 August 11:00–15:30, guided tours – simple refreshments (from 1 May the church is open for visits during the daytime)
Check access with the parish before travelling. Services and seasonal changes can affect visits.
Ekerö pastorat
Ekerö pastorat
Ansgarskapellet is a small chapel on the island of Björkö in Ekerö municipality, built to honour the memory of the monk Ansgar, who is said to have brought Christianity to Sweden during the ninth century.
strax öster om Björkö by i Ekerö kommun
Explore this church: AnsgarskapelletChurch information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.
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View church details: Tomtberga kapellSources, 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: 8 Jun 2022. This is not an independent verification date.
Source record: 5b40cf77-b6c3-46a7-a62f-7b8aeb76b0e0
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.