Kristine Church, Falun

Story

Kristine Church is the parish church of Falu Kristine in the Diocese of Västerås of the Church of Sweden in Falun.ConstructionConstruction of the Kristine Church started in 1642 and it was ready for use in 1655 under the name of The New Church of Falun. One of the instigators of building the church, County Governor Johan Berndes, had chosen the name Kristine Church as an hommage to Queen Christina in 1651 but the name had to be altered after the queen abdicated and converted to Catholicism in 1654. The name Kristine Church was reintroduced during the late 1700s. The tower was built during the years 1658 - 1660. The bricks of which the church was built were handmade in Rankhyttan, 25 kilometers from Falun. Limestone for the pillars of the church was taken from Rättvik.InteriorThe interior was considerably altered by the restoration in 1905: A new organ and organ balcony were built. The enclosed pews were exchanged for open ones. The doors of the old pews as well as the endpieces were used as panelling around the walls. The interior woodwork, which to begin with was unpainted and then later was painted white, received at this time its blue and gold colours. The old copper portals were exchanged for new ones. The latest restoration took place in 1965.The Kristine Church is an expression of the City of Falun's esteem and importance during the 1600 and is also an eminent representative of the later part of The Younger Wasa Period.The altarpiece and the pulpit were made in 1669 by the German sculptor Ewerdt Friis.The two chandeliers toward the front of the nave were donated to the church in 1844 and the one in the rear was purchased by the parish in 1950.