Dying to know more about this serene place? Welcome to Nacka gamla kyrkogård. It is the oldest and smallest cemetery in the parish.
Nacka gamla kyrkogård whispers tales from centuries past. It is a place of rest and remembrance near Nacka ström and Dammtorpssjön. This terraced natural landscape holds secrets beneath its soil.
Originally, Nacka’s first church stood here. It was a small wooden chapel. But it was torn down when Nacka Church was built in Finntorp. The chapel and bell tower you see today at Nacka gamla kyrkogård are from the early 1900s.
The church once played a more vital role. It provided education and administration. The priest was the authority. He was responsible for population registration. The first documented church in Nacka was built in 1642. Its dimensions were about 8.3 meters long and 5.3 meters wide. It also had ten windows and a turf roof.
Around 1695, construction began on a new church. It was located by Nacka Ström. Olaus Fröselius initiated the build. He created books where contributors could pledge donations. The church building lasted from 1695 to 1697.
The church was wooden. It had the shape of a cross. It stood atop a gravel hill north of today’s Nacka gamla kyrkogård. The church’s nave was about 18.6 meters long and 9.4 meters wide.
Gravel was needed in the 1890s. It was for the construction of AB de Lavals Ångturbin. The gravel began to be extracted from the ridge where the church stood. In 1904, the building was demolished because the gravel extraction undermined the church. It had been in use for two hundred years after its inauguration on February 2 1697. Nacka’s new church was completed in 1892.
Few items remain from the old church. The pulpit and votive ship are now in Nacka Church. A chandelier and brass candlesticks also found their way to the new church. Johan Hugo af Trolle took care of the timber. He used it to build a larger villa. The sacred timber can still be seen today. Two lanterns acquired by the af Petersens family hang in Erstavik’s chapel.
Nacka gamla kyrkogård’s gravestones tell of older burial customs. Some graves are impressive. They are almost like small chapels. Others blend discreetly into nature.
New graves were allocated until the 1960s. Today, burials only occur in existing family plots. The af Petersens family grave holds a central place. They have owned Erstavik since the 1700s. They remain the largest landowners in southern Nacka. The Neumüller family mausoleum has stepped gables.
Nacka gamla kyrkogård offers a tranquil escape. It’s a place to reflect on Nacka’s rich history. Take a moment to appreciate the stories etched in stone. Remember those who came before us in this special place.