Tranemo kyrka

Tranemo kyrka was built in 1881–1882 by the Skövde master builder P J Pettersson to designs by Emil Langlét, and was consecrated in 1889. It is one of twelve centralised churches designed by Langlét across Sweden, an unusual round form intended to give large numbers of worshippers a clear view and, in Langlét's own vision, to gather the congregation physically around the communion table and font rather than merely in theory. Originally the church had space for a great many seats, both on the floor and on five surrounding galleries, with a sixth gallery at the front holding the organ and pulpit.

Most of Langlét's central churches were later remodelled to appear more conventional, and Tranemo was no exception. Between 1937 and 1939 the architect Harald Wadsjö oversaw a thorough transformation: a semicircular brick apse and adjoining sacristy were added, the galleries and internal walls were removed, and a large plastered vault was built to conceal the original upper windows and painted ceiling, giving the interior a calmer, dimmer, more elongated character than the bright, colourful original.

The new chancel created by this work contains a painted depiction of Christ as the Good Shepherd by Einar Forseth, framed by ochre-grey scenes from the Gospel of John painted by Erik Abrahamson. Axel Wallenberg was responsible for the new pulpit and organ gallery of the period, carving two large figures said to represent Bishop Brynolf of Skara and Saint Cecilia.```

A further renovation in 1993 softened the severe 1930s scheme, repainting the interior in a lighter, warmer tone and setting new pews at angles to recapture something of the building's original circular feel. Two galleries were reconstructed, and a freestanding altar table was introduced so that, once again, the congregation could gather around it as originally intended. A central chandelier by the Fongs bell-founders of Gränna was added to compensate for the loss of the upper windows blocked off decades earlier.

Of the furnishings, a sandstone font from 1913 survives, its rounded basin resting on a square base. The tower holds two bells, one dated 1683 and bearing a Latin inscription. The church's organ history is notable: an early instrument from the 1600s was later replaced by an 1883 organ by Carl Elfström, itself removed during the 1930s remodelling, and today's mechanical organ was built in 1968 by Hammarbergs Orgelbyggeri of Gothenburg.