# Örgryte New Church

Örgryte New Church (Swedish: Örgryte nya kyrka) is a Gothic-style church located in Svalberget, Sweden within the Örgryte congregation (Swedish: Örgryte församling) in Gothenburg.

## History

Beginning in 1870, the churchgoers of Örgryte began planning a major project, as their existing 400-seat church could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. In 1885, under the leadership of Reverend Magnus Ekberg, plans for a new church were proposed. Donations were collected and the church took out a loan of SEK 50,000 to meet the estimated cost. Among its contributors were merchant David Lundstrom of Underås farm, James Dickson, David Carnegie and Oscar Ekman. The new brick church was designed to have a seating capacity of over 1,000, more than twice that of the previous one. To ensure a stable foundation, the church was constructed atop Svalberget. Local brewer JW Lyckholm of Skår financed two of its bells, Captain Pontus Virgin of Kålltorp paid for the altar while the stained glass windows were donated by the wholesaler Peter Hammarberg.
The architect was Adrian C. Peterson [sv], and the builder was F.O. Peterson. Work began in the summer of 1888, and the church was consecrated on July 6, 1890 by bishop Edvard Rodhe (1845–1932) [sv]. The final cost was 226,000 SEK, with donations covering slightly more than 120,000 SEK. The remaining amount was funded partially through the church's loan of SEK 50,000.
The church was built in red Börringe Brick from Skåne, and it did not have electricity until 1908. The facades have rich tegelornering, stone moldings, and forgings.
Because of the nature of the plot, the church is oriented northeast–southwest. It features a cross-shaped layout with open rafters and vaulted, pentagonal chancels. The church tower is almost 60 meters tall.
A thorough restoration took place in 1937 under A. Forsséns line, and the pulpit was moved. In 1952, four painted circular windows of the chancel were transferred to the stands, while other painted korfönster (stained glass) from 1889.

## Church organs

The church has two organs:
* Willis organ, originally built c. 1871 for St. Stephen's Church in Hampstead, London by Henry Willis, who was the leading organ-builder in England from 1850. When the church in Hampstead was closed in 1971, the organ was disassembled and sold to the Netherlands. In 1992, the Academy of Music in Gothenburg learned of the instrument, after which it was purchased by Tostareds Organ Factory in 1998 by the Örgryte Assembly Organ Foundation. The organ is the largest Victorian organ by a British manufacture in Sweden.
* The North German Baroque organ, built as part of extensive research at the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers. It was constructed at the GOArt (Göteborg Organ Art Center) workshop under the leadership of Mats Arvidsson, Henk van Eeken, and Munetaka Yokota. The instrument has four manuals and pedal with 54 stops distributed. The goal had been to recreate a North German baroque organ, the Arp Schnitger (1648–1719).

## The church bells

The church tower has two bells, each with the inscription:
    The Oscar II government when Dr. E.H.
    Rodhe was a bishop in the Diocese of Gothenburg and
    Dean J.M. Ekberg vicar of Örgryte
    Became the bell cast at Eriksbergs
    Mech. Werkstad in 1899 the factory owner
    J. W. Lyckholms expense.
The larger bell has the inscription:
    Come, for all things are now ready. Luc. 14:17
    Tacker Lord into his gates
    Lofver him in his yard
    Come here from all locations
    Prices on about us, care
    For he is the good and gentle
    Keeps faith forever.
And the smaller one reads:
    It's a kostelig things to thank the Lord
    And lofsjunga your name to most high
    The morning proclaim your mercy
    And the evening your truth. Psalm 92:2,3
    Glory to the Father and His Son
    The holy spirit in the throne
    Holy trinity
    Be praised and praise forever.

## Altarpiece

In 1950, the church painter Thor Fagerkvist (1884–1960) was commissioned to paint an altarpiece for the church. It would replace Carl Johan Dyfverman's crucifixion group from 1890. It was a triptych consisting of five oil paintings on canvas, three of which are usually visible with pictures related to Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, while the cabinet is closed during Lent, and then shows the other two paintings, photographed wagon and no Gethsemane. The frame was designed by architect Axel Forssén.

### The old altar

The great altar of cut oak wood was placed in the sanctuary of the church in 1890 and is the work of Dyfverman. The subject is the crucified Jesus with Mary Magdalene, the other Mary and the disciple John, beneath the cross. The sculpture was painted in 1923, and in 1969, it was restored by artwork conservator Torsten Öhlén. The crucifixion group was moved in 1951 to its current location in the transept.

## Altar

A crucifix made of ivory and ebony stands on the altar. The crucifix was created in 1952 by the Gothenburg based sculptor Henry Johansson.

## Font

The baptismal font was designed by architect Axel Forssén. Dean Ekberg's successor, Reverend Magnus Nilman (1855–1927), donated it along with dopfatet of copper to the new church in 1927, when was returned while the maroon kalkstensfunten to the old church.