Borrie kyrka is a small, ancient parish church in Skåne, ranked among the oldest surviving churches in the region. Built in the first half of the twelfth century, it stands out for its distinctive Anglo-Irish influenced Romanesque design and unusual triple-altar arrangement.
The church was constructed of limestone and sandstone during the mid-1100s, making it one of the oldest and smallest churches in Skåne. Its architecture shows notable similarities to Anglo-Irish church building, particularly around the triumphal arch, and has been compared to St Benet's Church in Cambridge. A tower was added later, during the late medieval period.
A striking feature of the interior is the triumphal arch area, flanked by two smaller arches leading to apse-shaped altar niches, or absidioles. This gives the church three altars in total, watched over by carved stone lions and horsemen figures.
By the late nineteenth century the building had fallen into disrepair and was abandoned as unfit for use; sources differ slightly on the exact date, citing either 1869 or 1874. The choir was converted into a bell tower at that time, while the medieval tower and nave were left to decay further.
Interest in restoring the church grew during the 1920s among parishioners and others concerned about the ruin, and a restoration took place that decade with the aim of returning the building to something closer to its earlier appearance. The original tower, however, was not rebuilt, and the restoration deliberately emphasised the church's Anglo-Saxon-influenced character: the walls were left unplastered, the apse was rebuilt, and the triumphal and tribune arches along with the nave portals were restored and exposed.
Among the furnishings visitors may find of interest are a large triumphal crucifix dating from the 1400s on the north wall of the nave, an elaborately carved altarpiece from the early 1600s bearing the monogram of King Christian IV, a Romanesque-style incense burner in the southern altar niche, and a finely wrought candle holder. The church is enclosed by hedges, and in 1978 it featured on a Christmas stamp issued by the Skåneland flag association.
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Stora Köpinge församling
Stora Köpinge församling
Borrie kyrka is a small, ancient parish church in Skåne, ranked among the oldest surviving churches in the region. Built in the first half of the twelfth century, it stands out for its distinctive Anglo-Irish influenced Romanesque design and unusual triple-altar arrangement.
Borrievägen 192, 271 98, Ystad
Explore this church: Borrie kyrkaChurch information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.
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Torhamnsvägen 8, 37300, JÄMJÖ
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View church details: Onslunda 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: 11 Jun 2024. This is not an independent verification date.
Source record: 7017aba1-a3ab-49d4-a3e8-0e20bdcb784b
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.