Gesäters kyrka

Gesäters kyrka occupies an unusually prominent elevated position, surrounded by open farmland in the valley of the Örekilsälven river, within an area of national interest for cultural heritage conservation. The church site is probably medieval, and the small timbered cross-shaped church is believed to have been preceded by a wooden church on the same site. The parish is one of the smallest in Dalsland and a distinctly rural parish where agriculture has been the main livelihood. The master builder responsible for the construction of the church in Gesäter was Erik Göthberg. The church has retained its original floor plan since it was built. The timber frame was clad in 1825 with rebated board panelling, which was painted white in 1899. Originally the church was painted Falu red. The church has a cross-shaped plan with a three-sided chancel end, a west tower, and transepts to the north and south. In addition to the entrance through the church porch in the tower, there is a small church porch on the south transept. The nave has a simple and light character with restrained furnishings. The colour scheme is dominated by grey and white tones, with grey marbling on doors, pews, the gallery front, and columns. Preserved from the 18th century are the pulpit from 1795 and the altarpiece, made by the sculptor Nils Falk in 1730 in provincial Baroque style. In the chancel there are stained glass windows from 1954. The motifs in the stained glass chancel windows are: The Good Samaritan, The Return of the Prodigal Son, and Jesus Blessing the Children. The paintings were executed in 1954 by the artist Erik Abrahamsson of Gothenburg. The church's medieval furnishings include the font and a Madonna figure of high artistic quality. The font dates from the 13th century and is made of soapstone. The wooden Madonna is from the 13th century and is known as the Gesäter Madonna.