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Håby kyrka

Address
KYRKBACKEN 4, 455 91, Munkedal
Municipality
Munkedals Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Göteborg

Håby kyrka is a parish church in Munkedal, western Sweden, probably built in the 12th century and dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch. Historically a landmark for travellers, it is first recorded by name in a 1391 bishop's survey as Haugbya kirkia.



The oldest surviving fabric is found in the thick stone walls of the nave's western part, likely dating from the original medieval building, which is thought to have had a narrower, straight-ended chancel. The present three-sided chancel was built out to the full width and height of the nave in 1731, when the interior also received a wooden vaulted ceiling. Medieval churches in the area rarely had towers, and Håby kept this plain profile until 1869, when the current wooden west tower with its pointed spire was added; its ground floor now serves as a porch. Before the tower was built, the bell hung in a separate red-painted timber bell-frame on a nearby hillside.

Three bells now hang in the tower, including one traditionally known as the Prästeklockan ("Priest's Bell"), said to be plain and uninscribed, alongside the Mellanklockan and Storklockan. The lintel above the chancel doorway is medieval, as is the soapstone slab set into the altar, both surviving from the church's earliest phase.

The furnishings show an unusual back-and-forth in taste. The altarpiece framework, font and pulpit date largely from the first half of the seventeenth century and are attributed to the woodcarver Jörgen Larsson, with the pulpit's sounding-board added in 1692. In 1877 these older pieces were replaced with newly made Victorian equivalents, only for the 1915 restoration to reverse the decision and reinstate the seventeenth-century originals in preference to the newer work — a telling example of changing attitudes to heritage. The chancel doorway itself was widened during the 1731 rebuilding, later blocked, and reopened again in a 1939 restoration overseen by Axel Forssén, which also aimed to recreate an eighteenth-century-inspired colour scheme for the interior; a sacristy built in 1871 was demolished at this time and replaced by the current one.

The west gallery dates from the church's early building phase and runs along the nave's western wall. Its painted panelling, including figures of the apostles, was decorated in 1915 by an artist whose name is given differently in surviving accounts — as either Martin Bernhard Wallström or Teodor Wallström — who is also recorded as having conserved several other furnishings that year. The altarpiece's original central painted section no longer survives; the panel now in place dates from 1939, set within the older, richly carved architectural frame.

Opening hours

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

Temporarily closed.

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

Munkedals församling

Håby kyrka

Håby kyrka is a parish church in Munkedal, western Sweden, probably built in the 12th century and dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch. Historically a landmark for travellers, it is first recorded by name in a 1391 bishop's survey as Haugbya kirkia.

KYRKBACKEN 4, 455 91, Munkedal

Explore this church: Håby kyrka

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

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Basic listing

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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: 5 Mar 2024. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: 7448683d-5e36-4119-a2e0-316d81511e05

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.

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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.