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Bogens kyrka

Address
Bogens kyrka, Bogen
Municipality
Arvika Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Karlstad

Bogens kyrka, a small wooden church near the Norwegian border in Värmland, was built in 1851 to designs by the architect Johan Fredrik Åbom. It reflects the plain building traditions of the Finnskogarna, the forested border district it serves.



The church owes its existence to the Mitanderfors ironworks, founded in the mid-19th century, which led to Bogen being separated from Gunnarskog parish. It was built beside an existing burial ground south of the ironworks settlement. Before roads reached the area, parishioners are said to have walked narrow tracks or travelled by horse and sledge in winter to attend services.

Although Åbom provided the original designs, these were altered during construction, giving the finished building a sturdier appearance than his lighter, more graceful proposal. The timbered church has a rectangular nave with a narrower chancel to the east, flanked by two smaller rooms, one used as a sacristy. It is considered one of Värmland's few well-preserved examples of simple, neoclassical timber church architecture from the mid-19th century, retaining much of its original character both outside and in.

A major restoration in 1979, directed by the architect Jerk Alton, gave the interior its current colour scheme and introduced a new free-standing altar. The chancel window's painted glass, by Tor Hörlin, is flanked by icons said to have been painted by Kjellaug Nordsjö, an icon painter and former vicar's wife in Bogen, and donated by the parish needlework guild in 1996. This combination of stained glass and icons in the chancel is described as unusual for a Swedish church of this kind.

The church's first organ, built in 1866, has been replaced by the present instrument, installed in 1958 by Grönlunds and moved here from Storfors church in 1974.

Opening hours

Opening hours have not been confirmed for the current date. This does not mean the church is closed.

Check access with the parish before travelling. Services and seasonal changes can affect visits.

Gunnarskogs församling

Bogens kyrka

Bogens kyrka, a small wooden church near the Norwegian border in Värmland, was built in 1851 to designs by the architect Johan Fredrik Åbom. It reflects the plain building traditions of the Finnskogarna, the forested border district it serves.

Bogens kyrka, Bogen

Explore this church: Bogens kyrka

Church information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.

Other churches in the same diocese

Basic listing

Fryksände kyrka

Fryksände kyrka is a red-brick parish church in Torsby, Värmland, standing on a site that has held churches since medieval times. Built in neo-Gothic style and consecrated in 1898, it is the fourth known church…

Kyrkogatan 26, 685 22, Torsby

View church details: Fryksände kyrka
Basic listing

Köla kyrka

Köla kyrka, in Värmland near the Norwegian border, was built in the early 18th century, replacing an older wooden church thought to be of medieval origin. This guide draws on local heritage records and Wikipedia…

Köla församlingshem, 67396, Åmotfors

View church details: Köla 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: 3 Apr 2023. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: a157852d-6929-4ca1-a23a-474e0c64de58

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.