Oscar's Church

Oscar's Church (Swedish: Oscarskyrkan) is one of the major churches in Stockholm, Sweden.[1] The three-aisled hall church, which holds 1,200 people, has an 80-metre-high (260 ft) tower in the south-western part of the building. Oscar's Church is located in the south-eastern part of Östermalm, where Storgatan and Narvavägen meet, near the Swedish History Museum. Narvavägen is together with the nearby Strandvägen—from which the church is also visible—one of the city's main boulevards, lined with several residential palaces.[2]

Oscar's Church
Oscarskyrkan
The Oscar's Church in January 2016
LocationÖstermalm, Stockholm
CountrySweden
DenominationLutheran, Church of Sweden
Websiteoscarsforsamling.se
Architecture
Architect(s)Gustaf Hermansson
StyleGothic Revival
Years built1897–1903
CompletedSeptember 1903 (1903-09)
Administration
ParishOscar's Parish
DioceseDiocese of Stockholm

History

The church was inaugurated in September 1903 as the result of a design competition nine years earlier. The competition was won by Gustaf Hermansson, who also designed the Sofia Church.[1][2] It was King Oscar II himself, after whom the church is named, who laid the foundation stone in 1897. Criticised from the start for its Gothic Revival style, it was originally meant to be partly clad in brick; this changed to a uniformly white façade, clad in limestone and marble. The construction work was delayed several times because of problems with the foundation, non-deliveries and labour strikes, which is why the church was not consecrated until 1903.[1]

Interior
Stained glass windows

The church underwent several renovations during the 1900s. In 1921–1923 major changes were made to the interior, including new stained glass windows designed by Emanuel Vigeland, all under the direction of architect Lars Israel Wahlman, previously known for having designed the Engelbrekt Church. In 1954–1956 further alterations were made to the interior, leading to changes in the altarpiece and the removal of some ornamental ceiling decorations.[1][2][3]

Organ

The main church organ, considered to be one of the country's most notable,[2] has received attention abroad.[3][4] It was built in 1949 by the Danish firm Marcussen & Søn, to the wishes of Alf Linder, who was the church organist from 1943 until his death in 1983. The organ has four manuals and a pedal, with a total of 78 voices and more than 5,200 pipes — making it one of the largest in Sweden.[3]

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See also

References
  1. "Bebyggelseregistret (BBR) - Riksantikvarieämbetet". Swedish National Heritage Board. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  2. Lindhagen, Suzanne. "Oscarskyrkan" (pdf) (in Swedish). Church of Sweden. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  3. "Mer info OK" (in Swedish). Church of Sweden. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  4. Snyder, Kerala J. (ed.) (2002). The organ as a mirror of its time : north European reflections, 1610-2000. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-514415-4.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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