Borgholms Church
Church environment
Borgholms cemetery is located in the northwestern part of the city. The place is surrounded in the north by a strip of beach towards the Kalmar strait, in the east of “Kapelludden” camping, in the south by Sandgatan and Bäckmans Park and in the west by the port area.
What once were the city’s outskirts has now become part of the urban environment. The church is located a bit away from the cemetery at the square. This type of solution with church and cemetery away from each other became common in the cities during the 19th century.
The Church
The construction of the church in Borgholm began in 1872, previously, the school building had been used as a church hall. When the church was erected it was built together with a new school building. The architect was Ernst Abraham Jacobson from Stockholm, and the builder was Chronwall from Kalmar.
The part that held the school was completed in 1873 while construction of the church dragged on because of shortage of money, but in 1879 the church was finally consecrated by Bishop Pehr Sjöbring from Kalmar.
The style is neo-Romanesque with buttresses, lombard bands, blind windows and the towers Tourelle. The tower is located in the middle of the building structure and the chancel is facing east. The exterior has not undergone any major changes.
The interior of the church was originally decorated in a time typical neoclassical style. The church was renovated in 1935 but got its current appearance at the rebuilding 1960-61.
The new interior was designed by architect Carl Hampus Bergman. In connection with the renovation the former school building was transformed to be the new parish house. This part of the building had during the 1900s been used for several different activities.
Memorial grove
The memorial grove was founded in 1985 and is located at the cemetery’s northern wall separating the area from the 1920s and St. Elavi chapel. The area has the shape of a triangle and is surrounded to the east, west and north by a low limestone wall. Inside the wall is ornamental shrubs planted in the west. At the entrance grows two pollarded elms. In to the memorial garden leads a pathway paved with limestone.
In the northern part is a pond and around this is space to place flower vases. North of the pond grows two blue spruce, ornamental shrubs and summer flowers. Between the blue spruces is a wooden cross standing. West of the pond is a cabinet in black painted plate where you can light and place memorial candles. In the eastern part stands a stone with inscription in gold. The area has several pine trees.
Buildings
At the cemetery’s northeastern corner is St Elavi chapel. The building, inaugurated in 1971, is built of yellow bricks with flat roofs covered with green plate. Also the interior walls are lined with yellow bricks. The chapel altarpiece consists of large windows with a beautiful view out over the Kalmar strait. In the building is also the morgue, serving the entire northern Öland.
Porter’s Office
South of the part of the cemetery that was added in the 1950s is the porter’s office. Here are two buildings. Both are clad with vertical green painted wood paneling and ceilings covered with red painted sheet metal. They accommodate staff rooms, storage room and garage. Here is also a porch, composting and storage areas.
The old Porter’s Office
In the angle between the old cemetery and the part that was added in the 1950s is the old Porter’s Office that is currently used as storage. The building has a flat roof and brown painted standing wood paneling.
Other
East of the part of the cemetery that was built in the 1990s is a cemetery park with plantings of shrubs, trees and lawns.
In the northern part of this area is a ceremonial area marked by a wooden sculpture. Next to the ceremonial area is an area coated with limestone, a pond and benches.
A specific area for tombstones that have been removed from the cemetery is missing. These are instead collected in connection to the Porter’s Office.
In the southeast corner of the old part of the cemetery are still traces of St. Elavi chapel that originally stood on the site, it consists of a slightly elevated rectangular area, and building remains was found here in connection to work with rearranging graves.
Source: Kalmar Läns Museum, (Kalmar County Museum)
Translation: Visitoland.com