Algutsrum Church
Church environment
The church and the cemetery is situated high on the fault line in the western part of the parish. Route 136, which extends from the northern to the southern end of the island goes past Algutsrum just below the fault line.
The church and the cemetery form the center of the village of Algutsrum, and have been located here since the Middle Ages.
North of the church is a memorial grove, laid out in 2006 on land that formerly belonged to the property adjacent to the cemetery, whose houses still remains.
West of the church is an old gravel pit called “Kyrktäkten”, today used as a recreational area.
The large open area to the east of the cemetery is the marketplace dating back to the 1780s. The location with market stalls is still in function at two annual markets. Around the marketplace is a mixed development of residential houses.
Several of the buildings were originally built for different crafts and business activities. Adjacent to the marketplace is a white plastered house that was built in the 17th century and has been used as, among others, the parish magazine and poorhouse. The building now houses the local folklore society museum.
East of the marketplace is since the late 1980s the parish hall, and since 1991 also the registrar’s office.
The houses are new built houses but there is also an older croft called “Rydbergstorpet” (The Rydberg croft), which have given the parish hall its name “Rydberggården”.
Just northeast of the parish hall is the school which is still in use.
The vicarage which belonged to the church is located a bit south of the church, still owned by the Swedish Church, but at present leased out as a private residence.
Algutsrums congregation is included in Glömminge parish and Southern Öland church community.
The Church
The church hasamedieval origin, which today is onlypreservedin parts ofthe masonryand ina fewconstructiondetails andfurniture.
By and large, the church exterior has a neoclassical expression, a result of the new building of the nave and the sacristy in 1822 and the tower in 1864. The church exterior is well preserved from this period.
Inside, the church has undergone several major renovations. The last two in the 1950s and 1980s, have transformed the church character of the room slightly since amendments under the gallery has been done, and the colouring has become stronger.
The nave still conveys much of its neo-classical origin. The Church lantern and tower is striking in its exterior and also unusual in its interior, with its three floors where one holds a viewing deck.
The highlights of the movables are the medieval altarpiece, the triumph crucifix, the baptismal font and the medieval gravestones. Others are the pulpit by Jonas Berggren and the second altarpiece of the Öland artist NJ Jonsson.
Memorial grove
The memorial grove, designed in 2006 by the caretaker Inge Slottner and located northwest of the cemetery, consists of a rippling brook lined with plants, a stone cross in granite, benches and a light carrier.
Buildings
In the cemetery’s northeast corner is a stone shed with white plastered facades under a pitched roof covered with old tiles. It was built between 1874 and 1884.
Other
In the corner between the nave and the sacristy is a sundial of limestone.
Source: Kalmar Läns Museum, Kalmar County Museum
Translation: Visitoland.com