Draft:Österhaninge kyrka

Österhaninge kyrka is a Swedish church constructed in the 1320s next to the Ösferhaninge parish home which was renovated to preserve its 1920s charm.

The church was once names St. Gertrud. The name comes from a legend recorded in the 1730s where it is said that Öster and Västerhaninge churches were named Gertrud and Brita respectively after two sisters. However most likely were named after two saints to whom they were consecrated.

The Österhaninge church is a church of traditions.The current stone church dates back to the 1320s with the current nave and lower and narrower choirs. The Teutonic Order is believed to be behind the construction of the church. In the past, there was probably a spring and a wooden church here.

A number of preserved rune stones from the latter part of the 11th century, most with the symbol of the cross in their decoration, indicate the early introduction of Christianity by the well-to-do families who erected them. Österhaninge church's oldest parts have been dated to around 1320.

The plan consists of a rectangular nave with a full-width, straight-ended chancel, west tower, sacristy in the north, armory in the south and a polygonal chancel in the east.

During the second half of the 15th century, the choir was widened to the width of the nave, the current sacristy and the armory were added and the nave got its three star vaults. At the same time, the wall that separated the west part of the church was also demolished; a space that was probably used for Teutonic Order needs.

The tower, whose walls stand inside the nave, was built in stages until the latter part of the 16th century.

A dominant element in the church room is the large sculpture group in honor of the Bielkenstierna family, which is set up in the burial chancel and came into place in 1683, whereby the eastern gable pile of the chancel was replaced by a hipped roof. The group is a work of art by the Dutch master Nicolas Millich, who was court sculptor to Queen Hedvig Eleonora in the 1660s. The work is one of Sweden's finest sculptural works from the great power era. The tomb choir itself was built 20 years earlier, in 1663, by Barbro Åkesdotter Natt och Dag, widow of Admiral Klas Bielkenstierna.

In Österhaninge cemetery, the village's great daughter, the writer, peace and women's activist Fredrika Bremer (1801-1865) is buried. Through her novels, she fought for women's right to come of age and to be educated at the country's universities to become teachers, doctors and priests. Her novels were translated into many languages, making her world famous.

She was diligent in the communion aisle in Österhaninge church. An altar cloth with lace made by the Bremer sisters was donated to the church. As a child, Bremer spent many summers at Årsta Castle, which was then the family's summer residence. Summers that came to mean a lot to Fredrika Bremer. In her old age, she was given a sanctuary in the castle and here she also died on New Year's Eve 1865.

Seats: Church hall: 200 (of which 150 pew seats, 10 in the gallery and the rest on loose chairs).

An obituary in a Swedish newspaper stated Former lead singer of Mayhem, Per "Dead" Ohlin who died 8 April 1991 was buried and had his funeral here 26 April 1991.