Believe it or not, the magnificent piece you see here – our cathedral’s pulpit – caused a lot of trouble and argument when it was erected in 1789. We’ll get back to that in a moment, but let’s start with the principle and history of the pulpit itself.
It was after the Reformation that it became common practice to build pulpits in churches. Luther’s new theology emphasized proclamation in a new way, and with it, preaching became more central.
In 1571 the new regulation of church life ordered all churches to set up a unique, elevated place for the priest to be standing during the sermon. To further emphasise that what was said in the sermon was God’s word interpreted, the pulpit should be placed in the choir, the exclusive area of the priests, or in the transition between the choir and nave, where the congregation was seated.
The first pulpit built in Strängnäs Cathedral was destroyed by fire in the 18th century. When King Gustaf the third visited Strängnäs, he decided that a new one should be made immediately, assigning court sculptor Per Ljung to do the work. It took just over a year to make and install.
The King was enthusiastic about it, as Per Ljung’s creation was designed in the neoclassical style that the King himself cherished. But royal enthusiasm was not shared in Strängnäs. People objected to the design of the pulpit as it was – and still is – the only example of neoclassicism in the entire cathedral. They said it didn’t look well in a cathedral that was otherwise characterised by the medieval and baroque ideal.
However, the King could not care less. He had accepted it, the pulpit was inaugurated and thus the matter was closed. In due course people would get used to and appreciate it, he said.
Maybe the King was right. Today very few people feel the pulpit misplaced in style. When something new has been in place long enough, in this case for more than 230 years, most people will regard it beautiful and perfectly well fit into the rest. What do you think yourself?