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Fors kyrkan

Fors Kyrka bell tower
Address
Skolvägen 3, 840 73, Bispgården
Municipality
Ragunda Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Härnösand
Last visited by us
27 SEP 2026

Fors kyrkan: Church in Fors parish, Sydöstra Jämtlands pastorat's eastern district. Summer-open church 2026. June–August, Mon–Fri 08:00–15:30.



Fors church is mentioned as early as the 14th century, when according to legend it was built by four brothers from "Elggårdsberget in Bispgården village".

During the latter part of the 15th century a new church was built under the direction of the vicar of Indal, the Dominican friar Josephus. There is good reason to believe that Fors old church resembled Ragunda old church both externally and internally. In the early 18th century new pew fittings were added, and in 1773 the church received an organ donated by deputy mayor Forsstedt of Sundsvall, which came from Åsen in Fors parish.

In 1765 the bell tower was completed, and it is the same one standing today. It was built by Johan Edler of Västerede. Payment for this construction amounted to 350 daler. Both bells are recast from older bells; the large bell was recast in 1745 with the inscription:

"As I am recast, so it is also wished that when I am rung it may be recast, that those who enter God's house may here have their mind and soul well renewed."

The smaller bell was recast in 1751.

In a description of Fors church drawn up in 1831 one can read:

"The church built in the fourteenth century of stone with wooden vaulting and a shingle roof … with 4 windows, a smaller sacristy also of stone and wooden roof, without a hearth and with one window, both the church and the sacristy in a state of near dilapidation."

By this time it had been understood in Fors that a new church would have to be built. This was a resource-intensive undertaking, given in 1811 to Simon Geting, a well-known church builder.

Unfortunately Geting died just as the foundation for the new church was completed in 1814, and construction came to a halt.

Work resumed in 1833, and already the following year the church was partly furnished. Pehr Carlsson of Sundsjö made the pulpit, and the church artist Göran Sundin painted the altarpiece and also made a baptismal angel. Bishop Franzén inaugurated the completed church in 1839.

The old church was demolished in 1834; its former location is today marked by a stone paving in the churchyard.

The first restoration was carried out in 1922–25, when electric lighting and heating were installed. A new organ was acquired. This was replaced in 1973 by the present organ.

Through donations made in connection with the first renovation, a new altarpiece painted by Olle Hjortzberg was added, along with a font donated by H. Eklund of Oppåsen, who also carved and painted the picture of Martin Luther that hangs in the church. Further renovations took place during the 1950s, including the addition of toilets. During the 1980s a major interior renovation was carried out, during which the old altarpiece was reinstated.

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.

Contact & official information

Fors församling

Fors församling

Fors kyrkan

Church in Fors parish, Sydöstra Jämtlands pastorat's eastern district. Summer-open church 2026. June–August, Mon–Fri 08:00–15:30.

Skolvägen 3, 840 73, Bispgården

Explore this church: Fors kyrkan

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

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Sources & credits

Church information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser, CC BY 4.0. English translation prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by Churches in Sweden. Historical and visiting information has not been independently verified.

Provider record updated: 28 Jul 2026. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: dc492c57-f206-4fae-8188-0d9fe0e6040f

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.

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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.

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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

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