Ova kyrka, a small church west of Lundsbrunn in Skara stift, dates from the 1100s and stands near the Mariedalsån stream. Its long history is closely tied to nearby Mariedal Castle, and its interior holds several unusual and richly decorated furnishings.
The oldest parts of Ova kyrka, principally the nave, survive from the medieval stone church built in the twelfth century. The building's fortunes became linked to Mariedal Castle after Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie began constructing the castle in 1666; he initiated repairs to the church in 1668. The church was later extended westwards in 1722, when the present three-sided chancel was added.
The flat wooden ceiling is decorated with eighteenth-century paintings depicting the Creation, the Fall, the expulsion from Paradise, the Crucifixion and the Last Judgement. These were painted in 1742 by Johan Liedholm, associated with the so-called younger Läckö school of decorative painters, who was based in Skara and Mariestad; he is also credited with the twelve painted apostle panels on the gallery front.
The altarpiece, showing the Last Supper, dates from the De la Gardie period and is thought to be the work of the French artist Nicolas Vallari, who was in the family's service; the pulpit, from around the same time, is also attributed to him, though this is not certain. On either side of the church can be seen the coats of arms of Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie and his wife Maria Euphrosyne.
Among the church's furnishings is a font dating from the twelfth century, one of the oldest surviving objects, though its base was renewed and it was repositioned in the chancel in 1913. Several finely carved medieval grave slabs (liljestenar), once set into the floor, are now displayed in the porch and leaning against the church's north wall.
Two chandeliers hang in the church. The finer of the two is topped with a double eagle and bears a Russian inscription; tradition holds it was given to the church by a Countess De la Gardie in the early 1700s, and may have been war booty taken during Jacob De la Gardie's campaign that captured Moscow in 1610, though this account cannot be verified. The second chandelier was donated by Sophie Sparre in the early twentieth century.
The church is built of dressed sandstone with rendered walls, a three-sided east end, a sacristy to the north and a porch to the west.
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Götene pastorat
Götene pastorat
Ova kyrka, a small church west of Lundsbrunn in Skara stift, dates from the 1100s and stands near the Mariedalsån stream. Its long history is closely tied to nearby Mariedal Castle, and its interior holds several unusual and richly decorated furnishings.
Ova kyrka, 533 92, Lundsbrunn
Explore this church: Ova 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: Vistorps kyrkaLocation and available visiting information. A fuller English guide is still to be added.
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View church details: Bjurbäcks kyrkaLocation and available visiting information. A fuller English guide is still to be added.
GRÄSVIKEN, 461 91 Trollhättan, 46191, Trollhättan
View church details: Gräsviken kurs och lägergårdSources, 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: 2 Apr 2025. This is not an independent verification date.
Source record: cddeacb9-7a36-4ddb-b1ba-d3894d248f65
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.