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The History of the Cathedral

Mariestad Cathedral with its origins has an unusual and compelling history and has also been the scene of several rare occurrences and reconstructions.

There is a short description of the church’s history below. If you find a particular subject area intriguing, you can learn more by scrolling the arrows next to "More about Mariestad Cathedral".

The Cathedral

Mariestad Cathedral is an impressive landmark that can be seen towering the city and over the horizon from afar. Despite many unfortunate occurrences throughout its history, the church tower now proudly peaks towards the sky amidst the everyday hustle and bustle of the vibrant town life.

Why a Cathedral here? 

Considering its proximity to the diocese seat in the city of Skara (in the south) there ought not to be a cathedral here in Mariestad. Its presence is partly the result of a power struggle between the sons of former King Gustav Vasa’s dynasty and the medieval church. By common definition a cathedral is the central church for a diocese and its bishop, but this is not the case in this church anymore. For a few decades, in the early 17th century, following the ecclesiastical model of other Reformation movements in Europe at the time, Mariestad housed a so-called ‘superintendency’, which functioned much like a bishopric. Since the church was once built as a cathedral, its name and title remained.

The Church Building

The church was erected during 24 years between 1593 and 1619 by commission of then Duke Karl, who during the construction period became known as King Karl IX. By 1602 the work had reached such a level of completion that the nave could become inaugurated for daily use. King Karl named the town and the church after his first wife, Maria of Pfalz.

Karl IX died in 1611. Aftre his death the construction was continued by his second wife Kristina av Holstein-Gottorp.

Since the rest of the church was almost completely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1693, of the original building only the outer walls and some interior items remain.

In its current state, the pulpit and altarpiece, as well as parts of the altar rail are the oldest standing parts today, originating from the beginning of the 18th century. Benches, church windows and the altar are from the middle of the 20th century.

The bell tower and spire, from the ground up measuring app. 82 meters high, got its resent shape in 1903, which constituted its fifth larger restoration during its 300 years life span.
In the tower hangs a large bell of 2890 kilos from 1760, a middle bell of 1154 kilos cast in 1753 out of smelted material from bells previously put out of order, and a small bell of 568 kilos from 1753. In 1972 a carillon with 20 bells was installed, playing hymn melodies four times a day at 9, 12, 15 and 18. 

Interior

Altarpiece

Wood carvings made by local carpenter Börje Löfman (1701), paintings by Johan Aureller T.Y. (1717). The altarpiece bears the monogram of at the time reigning King Karl XII appearing on three levels. At the bottom The Institution of the Eucharist is depicted. On each side the evangelists standing with their attributed symbols, Matthew (a man with wings), Mark (a lion), Luke (an ox) and John (an eagle), as well as statues representing town governance – a bailiff with a sword, celebrating the occasion that the city once held the seat of the regional governor, and Mercury with his staff, which stands for the city privileges and the commercial law that this allowed.

On the second level there is a painting of The Resurrection of Christ flanked by statues symbolizing the four Cardinal Virtues and the Dual Forms of Knowledge, as seen from the north side Science, Temperance, Wisdom, Perseverance, Sincerity and Prudence respectively.

On the third level The Ascension of Christ is depicted together with Faith, Hope and Love, the latter represented by Mary with the infant Jesus.

Pulpit

By Börje Löfman (1699). Christ in the midpoint surrounded by the apostles with their attributed symbols. On the right, Simon Peter, Andrew, Simon Zelotes, James the Younger, and Judas Thaddaeus. On the left side John, Paul, Matthew, Philip, Doubting Thomas and lastly Bartholomew.

Benches and church windows

Designed in 1958-1959 under the supervision of Rolf Bergh. The wheat bundle as a symbol of life is repeated in the headboards and on windows. Feel free to look for decor insects in the window tiles.

Items from the early church

  • Baptismal font donated by Bronte Knutson in 1646.
  • Two of the chandeliers. The middle one from 1644 is the oldest stamped church chandelier in Sweden.
  • A number of early silver items, some of which are shown inside the display case.

Other paintworks

In the back of the church: A portrait of King Karl IX and his second wife Kristina of Holstein-Gottorp.

In the south entrance: Christ with globe after the original painting in the Vatican, by Johan Aureller T.Y. (1732).

Outside the sacristy: Genealogy of Sven Ingemarsson's family tree, deceased in 1714.

Three memorial tablets (epitaphs) hanging in the church: One at the south entrance for Anders Bellander, vicar and dean 1689-1722, and two tablets in the chancel resembling the Cederborgian and Fägerstenian families.

Tombstones

Today there are no graves inside the church, but some of the most compelling stones have been kept as decoration on the floor of the chancel and on the wall in the south entrance.

Church organs

  • Choir organ (1986). 14 stops. Smedman's Organ Builders.
  • Grandstand organ (2011), partly with older material. 45 stops. Tostared’s Church Organ Factory.

The Church Today

The majestic church at the top of the hill in the old town centre is indisputably the primary house of worship of the parish. The sanctuary is a well-visited site for personal worship. The candle holder fills up with candles by people entering the Cathedral to kindle lights or enjoy a moment of tranquility. Sunday Mass is celebrated on every weekend and public holiday with few exceptions. Confirmations are held here, and many of the congregation’s baptisms, weddings and funeral services, as well as music services and concerts, annually.

Opening hours

The Cathedral is open for visits and prayer every day. May-August 08:00-20:00.
The rest of the year 08:00-16:00. Sunday Mass every Sunday at 11.00. 

 

More about Mariestad Cathedral

The Bell Tower

Tower Origin

On October 9, 1583, Duke Karl (later King Karl IX) issued a charter recognizing town privileges for Mariestad, named after his first wife, Maria of Pfalz (deceased in 29 July 1589). In the winter season of 1588-89 the King advocated for a new Cathedral to be built in the superintendency (diocese) that he had previously established in 1581, that included the province of Värmland, as well as Vadsbo and Valle counties in West Gothia (Västergötland). The first foundation stone was laid on the 25th of April in 1593. 

The nave opened on 3 October 1602, ahead of the church’s completion in 1615 and the interior decorations in 1619.

Mariestad remained a diocesan city until 1647 when the city of Karlstad (in the north) took over the administration. In 1658, the Vadsbo and Valle counties returned to the diocese of Skara. On August 18, 1693, Mariestad was ravaged by a devastating fire disaster that started at the homestead of “Dyrén’s Farm” at The Old Square. The church roof and spire burned down, and the church bells and their suspensions fell to the ground. A church spire was quickly rebuilt and ready in 1695. In stormy weather, on February 24, 1696, the spire fell apart again, shattering the roof and crushing the church vault. Fraudulent construction perhaps? 

Now the Cathedral was without its spire for over 50 years, the tower wall and ceiling protected only by a boarded loft. On August 24, 1749, a third tower and spire structure was erected. Sadly, on June 27, 1752, lightning struck the bell tower. The bells, the clockwork, the windows and the church roof were destroyed by a fire. A new tower was erected in 1753. At the same time the exterior walls were also whitewashed to cover damage that had occurred in 1693 and in 1752. The plaster was of a light red colour, which is why the church back then could be perceived as a brick building. 

A new clockwork was installed in 1761 that remained until June 12, 1903. Today, it is stored inside the tower chamber as an antiquarian curiosity. In 1787, the tower was equipped with lightning conductors as one of the first churches, or perhaps even the very first one in Sweden. 

In 1903, the loft cap was removed in favour of a more current high spire. During this contemporary renovation of the Cathedral, signed Folke Zettervall, the exterior whitewash was stripped off and the stone settings uncovered. The shape of this fifth, and last, tower appearance was maintained until major renovations were again carried out on the tower and church roof in 1995–2000, which included the replacing of parts in the supporting structure and all the outer roof panels and metal sheets. On some of the limestone steps of the staircase you can still find so-called stonemason's markings. These insignia show which stonemason carved the original stone.

Height

The tower and spire stands 82 meters tall. The wall structure spans 38 meters up and the high spire is 44 meters. The turrets or phials (small towers) as they are called measures 11 meters. Up to the small triangular window sills at the top of the tower, 247 steps up, it is about 57 meters. The centre beam that supports the cross at the top of the spire is 14.5 meters with a diameter of 40 centimeters. The bell tower is the tenth tallest church tower in Sweden (Uppsala Cathedral 118.7 meters, Klara Church in Stockholm 116 meters, Linköping Cathedral 107 meters, Saint Peter’s Church in Malmö 105 meter, The German Church in Stockholm 96 meters, Västerås Cathedral 91.8 meters, Knights Castle Church in Stockholm 87 meters, Stora Tuna Church 86 meters and Högalid Church 84 meters).

Water Tower

When Mariestad received its first water main in 1889–91, the water cistern was placed in the cathedral tower. The Cathedral served as a water tower until 1913-14 when another water tower was constructed. The cistern still exists and was utilized as a second reservoir until 1967. It can hold approximately 75 000 liters of water.

The Church Bells

The Large Bell

Cast in 1760 in the city of Jönköping by Elias Fries Thoresson and weighing 2890 kilos. It holds several inscriptions. Around the upper part: Jeremiah 22:29 “O earth, earth, earth! Hear the word of the LORD”. 1 Samuel 3:9 “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth”. 1 Corinthians 1:23 “We preach Christ crucified”. Around the lower edge: Psalms 95:6 “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker”.

On the North Side:

“Adolph Fredrich gave me Life,
loan and lot He clement gifted:
otherwise from sleep He lifted
Me from Darkness into Light. 

Seven Hundred and the Sixty
was the Year when I was born
as a caller to God’s city
summoning till night from dawn
people to this Sacred Stable
kneeling down as True Repenters
in the spring of Scripture’s Word,
feeding at His Holy Table.

Listen both to Law and Comfort,
hear His voice by Whom you’re Saved:
He, the LORD to Whom we’re Christened
the way to Our Salvation paved.

Know your sin, let God receive it. 
Live in Him, let Heart believe it.”

(Free translation of Br. Brisman’s poem by L. Vestergaard) 

On the South Side:

Anno MDCCLX (1760). Below are the names of the reigning King Adolf Fredrik (1751-1771) and Queen Lovisa Ulrika, governor Gabriel Falkenberg d.y. (1748-1761), vicar Petrus Lampa (1752-1786) and town mayor Jonas Wolllin (1729-1768), and other dignitaries of the community. At the bottom it states: "me fundit Junaecopiae Elias Fries Thoresson". Translated in to english: ”I was cast by Elias Fries Thoresson”.

The Medium Bell

Cast in the city of Skara in 1753 by Nils Billsten. It weighs 1154 kilos. On the south side there is a verse by Olof Kolmodin (nephew of Swedish PM and hymn writer Israel Kolmodin), on the north side several names and at the bottom: "I am cast in Skara in 1753 by Nils Billsten Part-Crown and Bell Caster". The middle bell is recast (out of an alloy concisting of 78% copper and 22% tin) out of the bells that were previously destroyed in the fire of 1752. One of these bells, in return, in 1695, was recast out of the three oldest bells that were previously destroyed in the Great Fire of 1693.

The Small Bell 

Also cast in the city of Skara in 1753 by Nils Billsten and weighing 568 kilos. On the north side a verse by Olof Kolmodin and on the south side a Bible verse from Psalms 95:6 and below: "Cast in Skara year 1753 by Nils Billsten Part- Crown and Bell Caster”.

The Carillon

The Carillon from Westerstrand's Clockworks in Töreboda and Bergholz Bell Castings was installed in 1972. It includes 20 bells and plays different hymn melodies at 9.00, 12.00, 15.00 and 18.00 respectively. 

Bell Ringning 

Since 1954 bell ringing is aided by an electric mechanism that was installed at the same time as the church building received its electric heating system. Previously the ringing was assisted through physical labour and ropes, 4 people were needed to ring the large bell, 2 to ring the middle bell and 1 to ring the small bell. From 1907 there is a meticulous instruction for how it should be rung at different services. This schedule can still be found at the entrance to the tower staircase. 

 

The Grandstand Organ

Back then, the organ was in a useless state. 2005 saw the starting point for the organ’s reconstruction. The task was entrusted to Tostaredas Organbuilders led by Tore Johansson. 

In 2011 the new organ stood completed and it was installed at a reinauguration ceremony on the 5th of June. The facade was made from a rebuild done by C.A. Härngren in 1905 out of an organ constructed by P.L. Åkerman already in 1864. 

Some of the pipework from 1864 has been reused in the 2011 organ (see the disposition chart below). 

The organ is equipped with a MIDI device that enables it to control other instruments or be played from other instruments. One can also record and play back midi-signals. This enables the organist to first record and afterwards go downstairs to listen. The organ is equipped with a touch screen allowing fixed combinations to be added and named as desired. 

Some important dates in the history of the organ:

  • 1673 Original organ by F. Bell and J. Rudberius in Lidköping.
  • 1693 Great Fire of Mariestad, in which the organ was destroyed.
  • 1705 New organ by J.N. Cahman. The organ was sold and moved to Kölingared in 1864.
  • 1864 New organ by P.L. Åkerman.
  • 1905 The organ was renovated by C.A. Härngren in Lidköping.
  • 1938 New organ (pneumatic) made of older material by T.H. Frobenius & Sons.
  • 2011 New organ made of older materials by Torstareds Organbuilders. 

The Ornamental Insciption on the Chancel Ceiling

In 1593, under the Duke of Södermanland, thereafter known as King of Sweden, Karl the Ninth, the foundations of this godly abode were laid, which, in common with the city, was named after His Grace’s former wife, Maria of Pfalz. 

Her construction as a church was completed in 1615, after receiving large contributions from the Royal Crown. 

In 1693, the city and the church with everything inside and attached to it, were reduced to ashes due to a fire disaster, but was then rebuilt thanks to the generosity of King Karl the Eleventh. 

The new bell tower, however, was poorly constructed and collapsed in a storm wind in 1696, after which the tower walls were secured with beams. 

In 1740, the church was whitewashed and decorated on the outside, and in 1741 on the inside. 

In 1752, in a thunderstorm, the beautiful tower building, built in 1749, caught fire, burning down the tower walls, the church roof, the bells, the clockwork and the windows. The roof was immediately rebuilt and covered with boards and iron sheets. New windows were installed that same autumn. 

In 1753 the present day bell tower was erected, first covered with boards and in 1759 with iron plates. In 1754 the two smaller bells were cast and installed in the tower, in 1760 the large bell was added. 

In 1761 a new clockwork was added, the stone cornice under the church roof was completed and the church was plastered with lime mortar. 

In 1762 the double vault in the tower was masoned up and plastered with lime mortar. In 1774 the church surface was plastered again. 

May the merciful God preserve this to His worship consecrated sanctuary from fire and other dangers until the final day of the Lord.

The Tower Carillon

Every day at 9, 12, 15 and 18 (except Sundays during services) the carillon plays hymn melodies that fit with the different times of the liturgical year. The carillon consists of a total of 20 bells (range c1-A-sharp2, not C-sharp1). In 2011, the carillon was renovated by Scanian Bellfoundries and a new automatic mechanism was installed (that also controls the clockwork).