Älvsjökyrkan

Did you hear about the baker and the church? Älvsjökyrkan’s story begins with just that. A baker named Henning Steijer had a large room for rent above his bakery on Storgatan. In 1910, a small ecumenical group, the Långbrodal Christian Activities Association, needed a meeting space. They found Steijer’s room perfect, and for 300 kronor a year, Älvsjökyrkan’s first chapter began. The association, with members from various denominations, sought to unite all believers in Christian activities. But a rented room wasn’t their dream. They envisioned a church of their own. Their initial attempt to buy land in 1914 was thwarted by the outbreak of World War I. By 1915, with war still raging, the original plot’s price had risen, forcing them to abandon the idea. Then, fate intervened. The owner of Långbro gård offered them a plot right next to Steijer’s bakery. The location, at what is now Långbrodalsvägen 46, was ideal. By 1916, blueprints signed by engineer Alfred Lårenson were approved, and construction commenced. Funding came from donations and the members’ own labor. Imagine them, brick by brick, raising their church. Finally, on December 21, 1919, Älvsjökyrkan, then called Missionskyrkan Betania, was inaugurated. This simple structure, with a main hall for 150 and a smaller one for 50, also housed a kitchen, a laundry room in the basement, and a small apartment in the attic. The church thrived, and by the 1950s, the bustling Sunday school with its 130 children outgrew the space. Älvsjökyrkan underwent a major expansion, doubling its size under the direction of architect Birger Lindberg. The renovations were completed by All Saints’ Day in 1953. Later, in 1993, a parish hall was added, connected to the church by a glass link. A bell tower, west of the church, was dedicated in 2000, its bell inscribed with “Ps 103 v 2: Praise the Lord, O my soul.” Älvsjökyrkan continues to evolve, embracing geothermal heating in 2003 and undergoing further renovations. Today, Älvsjökyrkan stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of a small community. From a rented room above a bakery to a vibrant hub of faith and activity, Älvsjökyrkan has served Älvsjö residents for over a century.