How about a story about a church that replaced a wooden chapel burned by Russians? That’s the story of Boo kyrka. This isn’t just any church. Boo kyrka stands as a testament to resilience and artistic vision in Nacka kommun.
Boo kyrka belongs to the Boo congregation within the Stockholm diocese. You will find it just north of Värmdövägen in Ormingelandet. The church that you see before you was consecrated in 1923. It replaced a wooden chapel that once stood on Boo estate.
Let’s rewind a bit. The original wooden chapel was erected in 1724. Nicodemus Tessin designed it. This was after an older chapel was destroyed by Russian forces in 1719. Talk about a fiery past.
Martin Hedmark designed the current Boo kyrka. It is a three-nave basilica. Notice the western church tower. On the other side, you will see a semicircular choir to the east. The structure is mainly brick. The exterior walls are plastered and faintly yellow. A vaulted sacristy lies beneath the choir.
Inside Boo kyrka, Olle Hjortzberg’s paintings adorn the space. The floor is covered in patterned brick. The central nave features an open roof truss. Flat wooden ceilings cover the side aisles.
Look at the granite baptismal font. It is contemporary with the church. The church’s architect designed it. He used medieval fonts as a model. The pulpit features paintings by Olle Hjortzberg. They depict Martin Luther and Olaus Petri.
Of Boo kyrka’s bells, the largest was cast in Ystad in 1928. M & O Ohlsson’s foundry made it. The middle bell was acquired in 1911. It was for a bell tower in Sågtorp cemetery. Later, it was moved to the church. K G Bergholtz & Co in Stockholm cast the small bell in 1923.
The original organ was built in 1925 or 1926. Alfred Fehrling from Stockholm built it. It had 19 stops, two manuals, and a pedal. Jacoby Orgelverkstad in Stockholm altered its disposition in 1961.
In 1989 or 1990, the current organ was constructed. Nye Orgelbyggeri AB from Nye built it. This mechanical organ even includes a bird song stop. Isn’t that whimsical?
The chancel organ was built in 1978. Bruno Christensen & Sønner from Tinglev, Denmark, made it. It is also a mechanical organ.
Take a look at the main portal to the west. Ivar Johnsson created the tympanum. It represents Ansgar and Botvid. They were Sweden’s and Sörmland’s missionary saints.
The exterior shows classical influences. The interior draws inspiration from early Christian and Romanesque basilicas. The church room has three naves and a semicircular apse in the east. Light filters through hidden windows behind the apse’s high arches.
Four granite columns support the arcades between the central and side naves. Local stonemasons crafted them. The materials came from the parish itself.
The windows in the nave depict scenes from the Passion. Olle Hjortzberg composed these stained-glass images. This summer guest of Boo also created the murals on the walls and vaults. He spontaneously painted “Veronica’s Veil” above the baptismal font the day before the church’s dedication in 1923.
The main painting in the apse is called “The Shepherd and His Flock”. The choir walls display parables from the New Testament. These were completed in 1944. Hjortzberg also painted Martin Luther and Olaus Petri on the pulpit.
Ninnan Santesson sculpted the altarpiece in carved oak. It depicts the resurrected Christ entering the congregation. He raises his left hand in blessing. The baptismal font is a paraphrase of late medieval fonts. It is carved from the same granite block as the columns.
Boo kyrka is more than just a building. It is a living canvas of history and art. It is a place where the past and present intertwine. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of stories. Consider the artistry within these walls.