470 nya kyrkor : Bidrag till Sveriges arkitekturhistoria 1850-1890

Sammanfattning: The present study critically examines the zealous building of 470 new parish churches in Sweden in 1850–1890; mainly replacing older churches in Västergötland, Småland and Scania; mainly new sites in Norrland. The primary source material is the church itself, meticulously examined in the fi eld and from archives, comparative analysis, the systemati-sation of formal elements and interpretation of architectural expression, characterisation of locations, plans, interiors and exteriors. The roles of initiators, architects, state/church authorities and building entrepreneurs are scrutinized as also liturgical demands, practical matters and the effects of growing populations and increased industrialisation leading to larger congregations, innovative building materials and new fashions. The results are extensively substantiated by analytical drawings, photographs, maps and tables of collated data, all new and by the author; fully availing of his training as architect, art-historian and Sockenkyrkoprojektet researcher. 18 churches are detailed in a representative sample. The parish church is its own art-historical genre. Each church is the sum of its parts interacting with its environs. When formal elements reoccur this refl ects practical solutions not always apparent from the written sources. A divergence between theory and practice is emphasised. Conforming rules, offi cial vetting and reuse of old drawings by the architects of Överintendentsämbetet were countered by master builders who deviated from approved designs, inspired by neighbouring churches. A spirit of architectural freedom fl ourished, encouraging creativity and novel architectural motifs. Traditional stylistic terminology is not applicable to these parish churches. Historical associations may have been sought, but were subsidiary to other demands of the building process. Individual architects and joint building ventures are identifi ed. Three ideals are isolated, variously utilizing form, light and height with a fashionable emphasis on spaciousness, the sacral and propriety. Today, increased secularisation and falling rural populations make these over-large churches an endangered cultural heritage.