Högsäters kyrka, sometimes nicknamed "the Cathedral of Dal" by locals, stands prominently over the surrounding countryside in Högsäter, Västra Götaland. Built of red brick and visible from all directions, it was consecrated in 1902, replacing an older stone church on the site.
The medieval predecessor church, built of grey stone, is thought to date from the early medieval period, with later additions including a wooden porch in 1718 and a three-sided chancel and sacristy added around 1732. That earlier building had a flat painted ceiling, with decoration attributed to a painter named Krok working in the first half of the eighteenth century. It was demolished in 1909, a few years after the present church was completed, though the 1732 sacristy survived and was converted into a memorial chapel in 1948.
The current building, in red brick and Gothic Revival style, was designed by the architect Adrian C. Peterson and constructed between 1900 and 1902. It has a cross-shaped plan with a narrower three-sided chancel to the east and a tower to the west, its tall spire covered in copper sheeting and topped with a globe and cross. The steep roofs are covered with patterned slate.
Because of its exposed hilltop position and the complexity of its construction, the church suffered from damp problems from an early stage, prompting repeated repairs during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. A more thorough renovation took place between 1975 and 1979 under architect Jerk Alton, when the roof was relaid and damaged timber replaced; a new sacristy was created beneath the north gallery, while the old sacristy became a devotional room. Further repairs to the tower's brickwork and damp-proofing followed in the 1990s.
Among the church's furnishings is a striking soapstone font dating from the thirteenth century, carved in two parts with a richly ornamented bowl featuring a moulded rim, a rope-pattern border and a relief vine motif; its base, in darker stone, is considered unusual for the Dalsland region. The font was gilded during the 1975–79 renovation and now stands in the south part of the chancel. The pulpit, with its seven-sided body, dates from the same period as the present church and is richly decorated.
The west gallery organ dates from the church's construction in 1902 and is notably well preserved, its silent front designed by the church's own architect. A separate, smaller choir organ was added in 1985.
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Färgelanda-Högsäters församling
Färgelanda-Högsäters församling
Högsäters kyrka, sometimes nicknamed "the Cathedral of Dal" by locals, stands prominently over the surrounding countryside in Högsäter, Västra Götaland. Built of red brick and visible from all directions, it was consecrated in 1902, replacing an older stone church on the site.
Allevägen 28
Explore this church: Högsäters kyrkaChurch information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.
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View church details: Botilsäters 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: 13 Aug 2024. This is not an independent verification date.
Source record: c4f74519-a4fb-4ed2-9771-c3d69caf79fd
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.