Here stood Bäckaby gamla kyrka. It was a medieval wooden church. Now, only a memorial site remains.
Bäckaby gamla kyrka has a fascinating story. It stood here in Jönköpings stadspark. But it wasn’t always here. The church was originally located in Bäckaby.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine a small wooden church in the middle ages. That was Bäckaby gamla kyrka. It served the parish for centuries. Around 1326 the age was determined.
In 1584 a new church was built on the foundation of an older one. The oldest windows suggested the church was significantly older. This suggests a rich history. The church even burned down.
The church consisted of a longhouse and choir when it was built. A wall with a triumphal arch separated them. The opening was later widened. The medieval church had small round arched windows. Traces of these windows were found.
Around 1694 a tower was added. It included a weapons house from the west. The roofs and outer walls were covered in shavings. Church accounts mention costs for these.
In 1899, the current stone church replaced the old wooden one. The old Bäckaby gamla kyrka was sold. It was moved to Jönköping. It was rebuilt in the city park.
Inside Bäckaby gamla kyrka was both original decor and items from other churches. The altarpiece and pulpit both date back to 1715. An organ from Järsnäs church stood in the northern transept. Nils Ahlstrand built this organ in 1823.
Zacharias Hake from Ramkvilla created biblical scenes in 1728. These paintings depicted scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Gerhard Boldt created paintings in 1769.
Interestingly the church was never heated. This was the case both in Bäckaby and in Jönköping.
In the early 1870s, the parish realized the old wooden church was fragile. In 1893, Carl Pettersson was commissioned. He had to create drawings for a new stone church. Carl Möller created a counter proposal.
The old church remained during construction. There was a question of what to do with it. Skansen wanted the church. But it did not happen.
Vilhelm Bergsten offered to acquire the church. He wanted to rebuild it. These ideas were not realized. The church was put up for auction in 1901.
Algot Friberg bought the church for 400 crowns. In 1902, it was moved to Jönköpings stadspark. The Northern Småland Antiquities Association was responsible for the project.
The move involved horse transport and railway. By early August 1902, the basic structure was erected. Later that month, the church was shown for the first time.
Tragically, on April 29, 2000, fire destroyed the Bäckaby gamla kyrka. The fire was arson. Perpetrators were arrested and convicted.
In 2003, a memorial site was inaugurated. It marks the spot where Bäckaby gamla kyrka stood. The metal fittings and the broken church bell were saved. Now a memory.
The story of Bäckaby gamla kyrka is a tale of faith. It is about community and loss. Though the physical structure is gone its memory lives on.