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Stavkyrkan i LillsjöhögenContinued from previous pagemänniskor med andra trosinriktningar ochför dem som inte är troende. Stavkyrkanblir på det här sättet religiöst obunden. Detgör att alla människor kan använda bynsandliga rum för sin tro.Storleken på Lillsjöhögens Stavkyrka:Huvudskeppet är 6,5 meter långt och 5,5meter brett. Koret är 3,5 meter i både längdoch bredd. Totalt blir ytan 48 kvadratmeter.Stavkyrkan är 8 meter hög. Sittplatser: 55till 60 st.Källa: Lillsjöhögens StavkyrkasInformationshäfteNi kan även hitta dem på FacebookInsänt av: Marie Carlson, Editor, VSFoto: Erik Trapp, LillsjöhögenThe Stave Churchin LillsjöhögenThe answer to why there is a stavechurch in Lillsjöhögen is quite simple: Whynot? The story begins in the autumn of2007 with two villagers that became curiousabout stave churches.The way it is constructed is so interestingand its history. They further thoughtthat the village was in need of a spiritualsanctuary. So now, one can only hope thatLillsjöhögens appeal will increase with thestave church. There are only a handful stavechurches in Sweden and this setsLillsjöhögen on the map. There might alsobe a link between the Pilgrims way andLillsjöhögen. Southwest of Lake Ösjön is aPilgrim well.From just an idea to actually doing itwas taken quite quickly, and without thesponsors, they would not have been able todo it. Göte Falkman and Göran Nilssonfrom Lillsjöhögen, has worked for free,with the construction. All electricity in thechurch, fuel for the tools and so on theyhave supplied and paid for on their own.Both of them have spent several thousandhours working on the construction. It hastaken four years from, just an idea, untilthe grand opening.The builders are retired, but have notworked professionally as just carpenters.Göte has a background as a greengrocer andGöran from the workshop sector. But carpentry,they can do. It has been a lot of fun,but it has also been a lot more work thanthey had imagined.During the spring/winter of 2008 theystarted working on the stave church, and inNovember of 2009 they began preparingthe land where the stave church would besituated. In the spring/the summer 2010they built the central ship. The altar roomwas built during the summer of 2011. All ofthe detail woodwork has been carried out inLillsjöhögen including the processing andpreparation of timbre.Christer Wall is responsible for thewrought iron work in the stave church andcomes from a family that has lived andbreathed the art of wrought iron since the1800th century, when his grandfather traveledaround Europe as a trainee. Christerbegan his career in 1958, but it was during70s, that he could titular himself as awrought iron master. He has done wroughtiron work in several churches, such as StoraKyrkan (the Big Church) in Östersund,Frösö Church and Lit 's Church. Those jobshave been small compared with the one inLillsjöhögen.In Lillsjöhögens Stave Church he hasamong other things made the scenery to thedoor outside, the church rooster and a largenumber of bolts. He is also the one who hasfigured out which symbols that will be onthe magnificent church gate. Christer doesnot know how many work hours he hasspent on the wrought iron work alone. Asthe wrought iron master he is, he counts hiswork in liters of coal he has used. He hasused 250 liters of coal, and that is a hugeamount. He has used approximately 5 litersper day that is about 50 days he has spent inhis workshop on the farm in Lillsjöhögen.On the outside of the stave church's gatethere are three symbols: lilies, dragons andarrow heads. The dragons are on the top,and it is a symbol that you can find bothwithin Norse paganism and Christianity.The stave churches were built in the breakingpoint between the different religions.The dragons were a symbol for evil andthey should be held outside the shrine. Thearrows are there in order to protect theshrine against the evil in the world. At thevery bottom are the lilies and it comes fromwhen Jesus preached and Jesus points to thelilies on the ground and says each andeveryone will be welcome to the church justthe way they are.You can find the Ankh cross above theentrance to the church. The Ankh cross isan old Egyptian symbol for life, strengthand health. It also represents wisdom, internalstrength and authority. The Ankh crossis the key to life. The cross's circle shapedpart symbolizes God.The stave church in Lillsjöhögen istreated with mixture of tar, turpentine andlinseed oil. Over time it has been calledseveral different things: Ship butter, pierbutter, and roslag mahogany. Roslagmahogany gives the wood a longer lifespan, and a beautiful brown red color. It canbe used on porches, stairs that are on woodships and also as façade treatment on stavechurches.Stave churches began to be built around1100 when northwestern Europe was christened.The churches can be seen as one ofthe most important representatives forEuropean Middle ages architecture inwood. The name stave church comes fromthat the church is built on a carrying structureof posts. Between the posts there arestanding boards, or staves that they also arecalled. In Norway, you can find most of thepreserved stave churches.During the middle ages, there werearound 1000 stave churches in Norway.Today, there are 28 left. In Sweden, there isonly one preserved stave church from themiddle ages. It is Hedared's Stave Churchthat was built about year 1500. There aresix modern stave churches, whereLillsjöhögen is included.It was Jan Gustavsson, prost emeritusthat suggested that Lillsjöhögens stavechurch will not be part of the Swedishchurch. It means that the district farm associationin the village can govern over theiractivities, and make their own decisions.The church does not have manyChristian symbols. The village wants thechurch to function as meeting place for peoplewith other faiths as well as for the nonbeliever.This way the stave churchbecomes religious unrestricted, whichmeans that all people can make use of thevillage's shrine for their personal faith.The size of Lillsjöhögens Stave Church:The central ship is 6,5 meters long and it is5 meters wide. The altar room is 3,5 metersin both length and width. The total surfaceis 48 square meters. The stave church is 8meters high. It seats 55 to 60 people.Source: Information Booklet available atthe church.You can also find them on FacebookSubmitted by: Marie Carlson, Editor, VSPictures by: Erik Trapp, LillsjöhögenA Vasa-bridge to yourSwedish ancestors!Looking for your relatives in Sweden?I have helped many satisfiedVasa-members finding their Swedish roots.Further info please e-mail:swedengen@telia.comPage 22 www.vasaorder.com Vasa Star October-December 2011