Ingarö kyrka is a timber church on the island of Ingarö in Stockholm's archipelago, consecrated in 1792. Beautifully situated beside the narrow Kolström waterway near the Ingarö bridge, it was built with funds from Baron Anders Cederström of nearby Beatelund manor.
According to a local story, the parish priest Samuel Ödmann fell asleep while fishing and dreamed of a church for the district, waking only when his boat ran aground. Taking this as a sign of where the church should stand, he is said to have persuaded Count Anders Cederström of Beatelund to pay for its construction. The chapel, originally known as Pilhamn's chapel, was completed in 1792.
The building is a log-timber hall church with a narrower sacristy added to the east and a narrower porch to the west, standing on a fairly tall plinth of tarred rubble stone. It was later clad in standing panelling and renamed Ingarö kyrka. All parts of the building are covered by gently broken mansard roofs finished with tarred wooden shingles, and a small church jetty stands nearby, recalling the waterborne access once typical of archipelago parishes.
Inside, the pulpit is among the older furnishings and originally stood above the altar; it was moved to the north side of the east wall during a 1932 restoration, allowing access from the sacristy, and its original colours were uncovered by a conservator in 1972. The wooden font, painted with green marbling, dates from the later twentieth century. On the altar stands a crucifix made in 1959 by the sculptor Arne Jones, donated to the church in 1981. The altarpiece, depicting Christ preaching to a community of fishermen, was painted in 1952 by Einar Forseth; an earlier altarpiece, originally from Kungsholm parish in Stockholm, had hung in the church since 1907.
The church has had several organs. An 1866 instrument by Daniel Wallenström was replaced in 1923 by an organ from Åkerman & Lund, and the current mechanical organ, built by the same firm in 1980, retains an older case front.
The churchyard is the resting place of several notable Swedes, including the aviation pioneer Carl Cederström (grandson of the church's original benefactor) and his second wife Minna Poppius, the author Maj Fant, actor Georg Funkquist, opera director Göran Gentele, designer Stig Lindberg, cinematographers Sven Nykvist and Hilding Bladh, military commander Torsten Rapp, shipowner Sven Salén, and industrialist Sten Westerberg.
Opening hours have not been confirmed for the current date. This does not mean the church is closed.
The church unfortunately has to remain locked until further notice due to theft and vandalism.
Check access with the parish before travelling. Services and seasonal changes can affect visits.
Listed by the provider; availability has not been independently checked. An unlisted facility is not necessarily unavailable.
A listed ramp does not confirm step-free access throughout the building.
Gustavsberg-Ingarö församling
Gustavsberg-Ingarö församling
Ingarö kyrka is a timber church on the island of Ingarö in Stockholm's archipelago, consecrated in 1792. Beautifully situated beside the narrow Kolström waterway near the Ingarö bridge, it was built with funds from Baron Anders Cederström of nearby Beatelund manor.
Ingarö kyrkväg 2, 13460, Ingarö
Explore this church: Ingarö 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: Kista 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: 14 Sep 2023. This is not an independent verification date.
Source record: e0b7e96c-d629-4cbc-8aa6-50bf4917d013
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.