Seglora Church, Wooden church in an open-air museum in Stockholm, Sweden
Seglora Church is a small wooden place of worship at Skansen in Stockholm, Sweden. Its oak-shingled walls form a red diamond pattern, and inside a dark single aisle opens to a triangular chancel with ceiling paintings of clouds, angels, and scenes from the life of Jesus.
Built between 1729 and 1730 in Västergötland, the church served a rural parish until a new stone church made it redundant in 1916. Artur Hazelius bought the old wooden building, and after careful disassembly, the pieces were transported by horse, cart, and train to Skansen, where it was reopened in May 1918.
Inside the church, a small verger's rod recalls the time when a church officer would poke anyone who fell asleep during long mandatory services. Outside, old shame stocks show how public punishment for theft was once carried out in full view of the community.
Step inside to let your eyes adjust to the low light, then look up slowly to take in the ceiling paintings. The church is part of the open-air museum grounds, so a visit works best when combined with a walk through the nearby historic buildings.
During the dismantling, workers found remains of an earlier medieval church and many coins dating back to the 1200s beneath the floor. The first wedding in the relocated building took place only a few weeks after it reopened, in June 1918.
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