Valla kyrka, on the island of Tjörn, is first recorded in 1320 and may be older still. Its name refers to the church's position between two hills, or 'vallar'. The medieval building was replaced by the present church in 1859–1861, with tradition holding that the old church stood inside the new one until the latter was complete.
According to Wikipedia, the present hall church was designed by Ludvig Hedin and built by master builder Andreas Persson of Sandhult. It has a tower and a three-sided chancel. The earlier medieval stone church on the site was demolished, though its burial chapel was retained and incorporated into the new building.
The most distinctive feature for visitors is the Hvitfeldt burial chapel, built in 1663–1664 for the noblewoman Margareta Hvitfeldt and her family, who held the nearby Sundsby estate. Attached to the church's eastern end, it contains five coffins, including those of Margareta Hvitfeldt, her husband Tomas Dyre, and their three children. When the church was rebuilt in the 19th century the parish sought permission to demolish the chapel, but this was refused, and it survives as an addition to the newer building; sources note it underwent restoration in 2025.
The altarpiece, a gift from Margareta Hvitfeldt in 1663, was carved by the sculptor named in sources as Hans Swant (Wikipedia gives the name Hans Schwandt). It depicts the Last Supper, flanked by figures of the four evangelists, with Moses and Aaron shown above. The font, of soapstone and dating from the mid-1100s, survives from the earlier medieval church; Wikipedia notes it is damaged and missing part of its bowl.
Two pulpits have histories worth noting. An older pulpit, donated in 1601 by Anders Green, a Norwegian royal chancellor, and his wife Mette Grubbe, bears noble coats of arms and Danish biblical inscriptions; it was auctioned when the church was rebuilt and reportedly held for a period at a Gothenburg museum before being returned to the church. The pulpit in current use dates from 1861, made by a Uddevalla mirror manufacturer. The gallery balustrade carries paintings of Christ and the apostles attributed to the church painter Lars Holm in 1741, salvaged from the old church, while later paintings beneath depict scenes from Bach's St John Passion.
The organ case dates from the church's first organ of 1878; the mechanism behind it was rebuilt in the twentieth century, with some older stops retained. A modern icon, Our Lady of Tenderness, was added to the church in 2021.
Opening hours have not been confirmed for the current date. This does not mean the church is closed.
Visit a church this summer
From 23 June to 14 August, the churches on Tjörn are open for individual visits Tuesday to Friday 10.00–16.00. Deviations may occur. You can also visit the churches in connection with a service or other activity.
At other times you are welcome to visit the churches when a caretaker is present; contact the office to find out more.
Check access with the parish before travelling. Services and seasonal changes can affect visits.
Listed by the provider; availability has not been independently checked. An unlisted facility is not necessarily unavailable.
A charging point is available in the car park outside Valla parish hall (församlingshem).
Travelling by public transport: Enter the address and search for your journey in Västtrafik's app To Go or on Västtrafik's website.
The church entrance is at ground level.
Tjörns pastorat
Tjörns pastorat
Valla kyrka, on the island of Tjörn, is first recorded in 1320 and may be older still. Its name refers to the church's position between two hills, or 'vallar'. The medieval building was replaced by the present church in 1859–1861, with tradition holding that the old church stood inside the new one until the latter was complete.
Valla kyrkväg 31, 471 72, Hjälteby
Explore this church: Valla 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: Kvastekulla kapellLerum parish's oldest church, built in the 17th century. Services, concerts, quiet evening masses, baptisms, weddings and funerals — everything that takes place in Lerum Church is enfolded by the angels who look down on…
Kastenhofsvägen 4, 443 35, Lerum
View church details: Lerums kyrkaLocation and available visiting information. A fuller English guide is still to be added.
Kyrkofjäll 224, 471 92, KLÖVEDAL
View church details: Klövedals kyrkaBjörlanda kyrka is a medieval church standing high above the parish of Björlanda, on Hisingen in Gothenburg. Its thick stone walls and quiet churchyard reflect centuries of continuous use, from the Middle Ages to the…
Björlanda kyrkväg 30, 42363, Torslanda
View church details: Björlanda kyrkaSources, 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: 22 Jun 2026. This is not an independent verification date.
Source record: 50795d76-8db4-4b6f-892b-0cb2a26150fd
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.