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S:t Tomas kyrka

Address
c/o 08-4458510, Kirunagatan
Municipality
Stockholms stad
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Stockholm

S:t Tomas kyrka is a striking twentieth-century church in Vällingby, on the outskirts of Stockholm, consecrated in 1960. Designed by the architect Peter Celsing, it stands beside Vällingby's town centre and is notable for its bold brick architecture and a wooden crucifix by the sculptor Bror Hjorth.



S:t Tomas kyrka was built as the parish church for Vällingby, a planned 1950s suburb of Stockholm that was an early example of an "ABC" development combining work, housing and centre. Although a church had been part of the plans from the outset, the commission passed through several hands before being given to Peter Celsing, following the withdrawal of the original architects Backström and Reinius. The design process took more than six years, as Celsing worked closely with the parish to reconcile practical requirements with his architectural vision. Construction finally began in 1958.

The church is built almost entirely of dark-fired brick, with facades notably free of guttering, eaves or other visible fittings, giving the walls a stark, unbroken character. Unusually, the bricklaying was carried out by apprentice bricklayers on Celsing's own suggestion, both to control costs and to produce a more irregular, textured surface than skilled masons might have achieved. The building is arranged around a near-square plan with a central courtyard, recalling a cloister, and the tall steel cross standing before the entrance has become one of its most recognisable features.

Inside, the same dark brick continues on the walls, combined with concrete beams and pale concrete elements in the ceiling and square ceramic tiles on the floor. A tall, narrow window lights the area near the chancel. The wooden crucifix by Bror Hjorth remains one of the most distinctive furnishings, giving the otherwise austere interior a striking focal point.

The church tower, built in brick and concrete, carries twenty bells openly exposed to view, eighteen of which form a carillon, with the remaining two serving as the church bells proper. Vällingby did not become an independent parish until 1974, considerably later than the church itself, and the adjoining parish house was completed only after Celsing's death, based on his sketches and finished by the architect Per Ahrbom in the later 1970s.

The building is considered one of the foremost examples of the churches erected in Stockholm's new post-war suburbs, and it has been given the city museum's highest classification for buildings of exceptional cultural-historical value.

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.

Vällingby församling

S:t Tomas kyrka

S:t Tomas kyrka is a striking twentieth-century church in Vällingby, on the outskirts of Stockholm, consecrated in 1960. Designed by the architect Peter Celsing, it stands beside Vällingby's town centre and is notable for its bold brick architecture and a wooden crucifix by the sculptor Bror Hjorth.

c/o 08-4458510, Kirunagatan

Explore this church: S:t Tomas kyrka

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

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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: 21 Apr 2023. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: 7e4a6670-adbb-40c2-8fb1-96b14dc56e8a

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.