Ljungs kyrka

A service is held in Ljungs kyrka every Sunday at 11.00, with a few exceptions, when there may, for example, be a joint service in one of our other churches. On certain Sundays the services are prepared by a service group – a team of volunteers together with a priest and musicians. Sometimes we have a choir group and instrumentalists who make it easy to join in singing hymns and songs.

Please get in touch if you would like to help with something connected to the service - singing, playing music, operating the text projector, thinking, giving your opinion…

After the service everyone is welcome to have a cup of coffee, tea or squash at the back of the church.

Ljungs kyrka - "the white church by the sea"

This church, now rendered in white, stands on the hill by Ljungs kile, part of the Fräknefjorden, was built in 1902 and was designed by the architect Gustaf Petterson. With its white colour the church is clearly visible across the fjord to Orust, and the church bells can be heard far and wide. The name Ljung probably comes from the plant ljung (heather), which grew abundantly on the hills around here (Lyng 1341), but perhaps also from the Norwegian word slynget (to wind or meander). Bohuslän was, after all, part of Norway before 1658. The Ljungsån river, which runs close to both the old and the current church, winds and forms meanders.

When the old church became too small for the growing population, the parish assembly decided to build a new church in the new churchyard, situated beside the ship setting, which dates from the late Iron Age. The church was built of red Skromberga brick. A long history of damp damage meant that the church was rendered white during the major restoration carried out in 1951.

The most valuable furnishings were transferred from the old church to the new one. Others were sold at auction, and the old church was left to fall into disrepair.

The pulpit dates from 1634, with carved Norwegian-Danish text.

The altarpiece is a late Renaissance work, possibly from 1620, probably repainted in 1791. In the centre is the crucified Jesus, with Moses holding the tablets of the law on the left and John on the right.

The church has two font basins: an older one in wood from 1733, and a new font that was consecrated in 2019. The new font has a glass basin designed by Sofia Bergman, with the wooden part made by Göte Henriksson.

The paintings in the chancel arch were painted by Gunnar Tornhamn and were created during the major restoration of the church in 1951.

The triumphal crucifix was sculpted by Walfrid Andersson, Timmerås in Forshälla, based on a full-scale plaster model by Gunnar Torhamn.

Two bells hang in the tower. The large bell dates from 1902, the same year as the church, and was cast by Göteborgs Mek. Werkstad. The smaller bell dates from 1698 and was cast by Peter Böök. This bell was moved from the old church when the current church was consecrated.

The church is the main church in what is now called Ljungskile parish. Within the parish's geographical area there are four further churches: Grinneröds kyrka to the south, Ljungs gamla kyrka right next door, Resteröds kyrka to the northwest, and Forshälla kyrka to the north. There is also Djurhults kapell, which is owned and run by the Fjällbygdens kapell foundation, and Åh stiftsgårds kyrka.