Bunge Church

Bunge Church
Bunge kyrka

Bunge Church, external view
Bunge Church
57°51′13″N 19°01′24″E / 57.85361°N 19.02333°E / 57.85361; 19.02333
Location Bunge
Country Sweden
Denomination Church of Sweden
Administration
Diocese Visby

Bunge Church (Swedish: Bunge kyrka) is a medieval Lutheran church in Bunge on the Swedish island of Gotland, in the Diocese of Visby (Sweden).

History

Detail of the church's southern portal

Archaeological excavations carried out in 1916 and 1971 have shown that the present, mainly Gothic church was pre-dated by a Romanesque church, dating from the 12th century. The massive, fortress-like tower of the church is somewhat later but belonged to this first edifice.[1] The nave and choir were built in the 14th century in a form of High Gothic typical for Gotland: the nave is high and spacious, divided into two by slender columns; the choir lacks an apse; and the east end of the church instead finishes in a straight wall adorned with three slender windows.[2][3]

The church and churchyard are surrounded by a wall which originally reached much higher and had a defensive purpose. Four medieval gates still survive in the wall.[1][2][3] The church complex evidently has fulfilled a defensive role, as there are marks from pikes and crossbow bolts in the sturdy tower-door, still preserved in its original place.[1][2][3][4][5][6] In addition, the inside of the church is profusely decorated with frescos depicting, among other things, fighting knights.[1][2][3][4] The frescos and the church wall may date from the short period in history when Gotland belonged to the Teutonic Order. This has led some scholars to speculate whether the church for a time might have been owned by the crusading Order, and turned into an Ordensburg (albeit on a small scale).[1]

Architecture

The church is one of the largest on northern Gotland.[2][3] As mentioned, it displays a mix between Romanesque (the tower) and Gothic (the nave and choir). The church has a finely carved southern portal, rich in sculpture, and a northern portal with Romanesque details, possibly also incorporated from the earlier church building.[2][3]

The most distinguishing feature of the interior is no doubt the richly painted walls, with frescos executed by a master painter probably from Prussia or Bohemia.[1] These are from the late 14th century or early 15th and depict different Christian themes, like the Last Judgement, the crucifixion, a few of the apostles but also the Mass of Saint Gregory and legends of saints.[1][2][3] As for the previously mentioned depicted knights, scholars have different views of what they may depict or represent. One theory is that they are Teutonic knights.[1] Another claims that they represent a depiction of the Battle of Visby,[5] while others believe they are, in line with the other paintings, representing the Christian theme of the martyrdom of the Theban Legion.[2][3] A single remaining painted glass window remains, a baptismal font from the 13th century and an oddity: a mite box in stone, which is signed by the stonemason in runes, Lafrans made this stone.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Andrén, Anders (2011). Det Medeltida Gotland. En arkeologisk guidebok (in Swedish). Lund: Historiska Media. pp. 181–184. ISBN 978-91-85873-83-8.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Svahnström, Gunnar (1973). Lagerlöf, Erland, ed. Gotlands kyrkor (in Swedish). Uddevalla: Rabén & Sjögren. pp. 108–110. ISBN 9129410355.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jonsson, Marita; Lindquist, Sven-Olof (1987). Vägen till kulturen på Gotland (in Swedish). Visby: Gotlands fornsal. pp. 57–58. ISBN 91-971048-1-7.
  4. 1 2 Enderborg, Bernt. "Bunge kyrka, Gotland". guteinfo.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  5. 1 2 Enderborg, Bernt. "Vår Gud är oss en väldig borg, Gotland, Kåseri, Bunge". guteinfo.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Bunge kyrka". Visit Gotland. Gotland.net (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 July 2013.

Coordinates: 57°51′13″N 19°01′24″E / 57.85361°N 19.02333°E / 57.85361; 19.02333

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