How about a church that moved? That is the story of Viksjö kyrka. It stands here in Viksjö centrum. But it wasn’t always here.
Viksjö kyrka belongs to the Järfälla parish. It is part of the Diocese of Stockholm. The church we see today was consecrated on June 19 2005. Bishop Caroline Krook officiated the ceremony.
Before this building, there was a “wandering church”. This earlier church was a wooden structure. It was designed by architect Rolf Bergh. Imagine a church made of prefabricated elements. It could be easily moved.
Before finding its permanent home in Viksjö in 1971, it stood in Barkarby. This was while the medieval Järfälla church was being renovated. Later, parish premises and a bell tower were added. The “wandering church” stood on the hill where stables and farm buildings once were. These buildings were demolished around 1970. The church then occupied that space. It remained in use until June 12 2005. That was the Sunday before the present church opened.
Nyréns Arkitektkontor designed the new Viksjö kyrka. It is a wooden building. The facade is white inside and out. The church room is built sideways. The altar faces the long wall.
The altar, font, and ambo were also designed by Nyréns Arkitektkontor. The organ came from the old studio church. Walter Thür built it. It was inaugurated in 1981.
The bell tower dates from 1977. It stood by the old church. It has two bells. When the new Viksjö kyrka was built in 2005, the bell tower was moved here from Viksjö farm.
Viksjö kyrka is more than just a building. It’s a place of worship. It’s a place with a unique history. It started as a temporary solution. Now it is a permanent fixture in Viksjö centrum. The story of Viksjö kyrka reminds us that even sacred spaces can evolve.