Segerstads Church
Church environment
Segerstads church and the cemetery is on the south east coast of Öland at the east main road in the southern part of Segerstad village. Around stretches arable and pasture land and the Alvar out. South of the cemetery is the former vicarage and just north of the cemetery next to the main road is the old school of wood, built 1848.
The church
Segerstads medieval church was the smallest on the island of Öland, only 16 meters long. The ground walls of the small, east tower, church with a strait eastern wall, built in the 12th century is located under the floor of the today church. One of the pillars carved out of limestone from Gotland that was carrying up the vault, is now with its column capital below the baptismal font, while other parts are found in the plinth to the sun-dial in the churchyard.
The current church is a traditional hall church provided with large arched windows and wooden barrel-vault. Tower to the west is surmounted by an octagonal lantern. Sacristy is located in the east.
The church was built in 1839 by Peter Isberg in free interpretations after drawings by RV Brouhn. After the inauguration in October 1843, in addition to an exterior restoration 1949-51, only minor changes have been made.
The 19th Century church was fitted with an altar pulpit. The basket that was sculpted in, in 1765 by Clas Wahlberg, was taken from the old church. When the church was renovated in 1949 the pulpit was moved to the north side of the chancel and behind the altar ring was a new altar placed.
Some of the interior is left since the 12th century and the altarpiece was painted by Einar Forseth, in 1950, and there is also a painting with Öland motifs painted by “solmålaren” (“The Sunpainter”) Per Ekström inside the church.
Buildings
In the northwest corner of the cemetery is an old whitewashed stone building with a tiled roof. Previously it was used as a morgue now only as a storage room.
Outside the cemetery wall to the south is a small wooden building used as a storage room and where there is also a toilet for the public.
Other
At the entrance to the cemetery in the west stands a limestone rock with the inscription: “Wandringsman tänk på ändan 1776.ss Pastor ” (Hiker think of the end) It is a remnant of the former pastor Sven Sahlsten. Sahlsten wanted by the inscription on the hob give the hiker a reminder of his mortality and thus arouse the devotion idea to life.
A sundial stands in the cemetery south of the church. It is partly built of material from the old church. When it was made is unknown.
In the cemetery’s northeastern corner, arranged along the wall, is old gravestones that are taken out of service.
Source: Kalmar Läns Museum, Kalmar County Museum
Translation: Visitoland.com