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Ödeborgs kyrka

Address
Kyrkvägen 3, 45831, Färgelanda
Municipality
Färgelanda Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Karlstad

According to popular tradition, Ödeborgs kyrka is said to have been built before the flood. The church is very old, with its oldest parts dating back to the 13th century.



Significant parts of the western section of the nave remain from the church's original structure. It is thought that it originally had a squared chancel and an entrance on the western part of the south side, an appearance consistent with several other medieval stone churches in Dalsland.

Tradition tells of Ödeborg as an offering church (offerkyrka) and of the custom of praying intercessions here for the sick in other parishes. Such requests are said to have occurred as late as the 1850s. The church has a three-sided chancel in the east and a tower in the west. The medieval walls were extended eastward, probably in 1699.

The chancel has an asymmetrical shape, a feature known from several churches and thought to recall how Christ's head fell to the side as he gave up his spirit.

The tower, erected in 1769, has an archaic character owing to its solid form in relation to the nave's relatively low height. The façade is covered with white roughcast render. On the south façade, to the west, there is a mark from a blocked-up medieval portal, and to the east a clear seam showing the extension in that direction. On the eastern side of the north façade, the year 1699 is displayed in black-painted iron. The interior of the church is sparingly furnished and has a distinctly narrow, elongated form. The room is largely characterised by a unifying overall design from a major renovation in 1926, during which, among other things, the pew furnishings were renewed.

Among the older furnishings are the pulpit and altarpiece from the 18th century, the latter in a provincial Baroque style. The artist of the altarpiece is unknown, but the style recalls that of the sculptor Isac Schullström, known within the diocese. At its centre is a painting with wooden figures, Christ on the cross with Mary and John on either side.

The church's font is dated to the 13th century and is made of soapstone in Romanesque style, with rich ornamentation in the relief surrounding the basin. In the churchyard stand a couple of interesting iron crosses made at Rådanefors bruk, an ironworks that was in operation between 1730 and 1895.

Opening hours

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

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

Färgelanda-Högsäters församling

Ödeborgs kyrka

According to popular tradition, Ödeborgs kyrka is said to have been built before the flood. The church is very old, with its oldest parts dating back to the 13th century.

Kyrkvägen 3, 45831, Färgelanda

Explore this church: Ödeborgs 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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Basic listing

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Sources & credits

Church information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser, CC BY 4.0. English translation prepared with AI assistance by Churches in Sweden; not yet editorially reviewed or independently verified.

Provider record updated: 13 Aug 2024. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: acc3dc3f-db01-4a46-a941-d668f35a8ff5

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Church data retrieved 24 Sep 2026. Visiting details have not been independently verified.

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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.

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