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Kumla kyrka

Address
Kumla kyrka, 596 95, Väderstad
Municipality
Mjölby Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Linköping

Kumla kyrka is a small Romanesque limestone church near Väderstad in Östergötland, said to be Linköping diocese's smallest church. Built around the late 12th or early 13th century beside Lake Tåkern, it retains much of its medieval character despite later alterations.



The church has a rectangular nave with a narrower apsidal chancel under a steep gabled roof, a plan largely unchanged since the Middle Ages. It belongs to a small group of Romanesque apse churches concentrated mainly in the western part of the county. A medieval west tower once stood here, but its upper section was demolished in 1818 after cracks appeared, with the lower part absorbed beneath the nave roof; the church bells now hang in a separate bell frame.

Inside, the Romanesque roof structure survives, and parts of the ceiling boarding are thought to be medieval. Cross vaults were added to the nave in the 15th century, though these were later removed and replaced with a wooden barrel vault when the tower was altered in 1818. A richly carved piscina, used for ritual hand-washing and disposing of baptismal water, remains on the apse wall near the altar, and a medieval limestone font base now forms the pedestal of the pulpit.

The most striking furnishing is the carved oak altar cabinet made in Lübeck in the second half of the 15th century, given to Kumla in the early 1700s by the neighbouring Svanshals parish, from whose church it originally came. It depicts the Coronation of Mary flanked by saints, with scenes from the life of Christ on its painted wings, and has been restored and regilded more than once. The medieval sacristy was substantially rebuilt in 1696.

The churchyard contains around 100 surviving gravestones, the oldest dating from 1892. A modest mechanical organ, built in 1863 by August Rosenborg of Vadstena with a case designed by Ludvig Hawerman, still stands in the church, its facade retaining much of its original gilding.

Opening hours

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

Additional opening information is awaiting translation. Check the official visitor-information link before travelling.

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

Facilities & accessibility

  • Toilet

Listed by the provider; availability has not been independently checked. An unlisted facility is not necessarily unavailable.

Väderstads församling

Kumla kyrka

Kumla kyrka is a small Romanesque limestone church near Väderstad in Östergötland, said to be Linköping diocese's smallest church. Built around the late 12th or early 13th century beside Lake Tåkern, it retains much of its medieval character despite later alterations.

Kumla kyrka, 596 95, Väderstad

Explore this church: Kumla kyrka

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

Other churches in the same diocese

Basic listing

Askeby kyrka

Askeby kyrka, in the village of Askeby in Östergötland, is one of the region's most unusual medieval churches. Built in the later twelfth century, it served a dual purpose: as the parish church and as…

Askeby kyrka, 585 62, Linghem

View church details: Askeby kyrka
Basic listing

Östra Skrukeby kyrka

Set on a small rise above the lake Roxen in Östergötland, Östra Skrukeby kyrka is a medieval parish church whose oldest parts date from the mid-1100s. Surrounded by ancient remains, the site is thought to…

Östra Skrukeby kyrka, 58561, Linghem

View church details: Östra Skrukeby kyrka
Basic listing

Östra Eds kyrka

Overlooking Edsviken bay, Östra Eds kyrka is easily recognised by the gilded pilot cutter that serves as its spire ornament. This church in Valdemarsvik, part of the Diocese of Linköping, stands on a site with…

ÅSVIKS SÄTERI 7, 615 92, Valdemarsvik

View church details: Östra Eds kyrka

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: 17 Aug 2026. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: 11f12945-2222-4927-b538-6de681e8fb92

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.