Stora kyrkan (Östersund)

An ambitious 20th‑century church for a growing town

Stora kyrkan was built between 1938 and 1940 after designs by architect Lars Israel Wahlman and consecrated on 14 July 1940; the building answered Östersund’s need for a larger, more monumental parish church as the town expanded in the early 20th century. The exterior presents a robust brick basilica form with a pronounced west tower capped by a copper roof with gilded accents, set on a rough‑hewn granite base that anchors the massing to the northern landscape.

Architecture and the language of materials

The church’s architecture is expressed through large simplified volumes, hand‑made brickwork and tall, narrow pointed windows in the side aisles that give the interior a vertical emphasis. The plan is a traditional basilica with clearly defined side aisles and a three‑sided choir; the austere massing and pared‑down ornament place the emphasis on texture and silhouette rather than applied decoration. A granite portal frames a figurative stone frieze by Olof Ahlberg that narrates episodes connected with the Christianisation of Jämtland.

A monumental altarpiece and local iconography

Dominating the east end is a 170‑square‑metre al fresco altarpiece painted by Hilding Linnqvist between 1939 and 1940 — at the time one of the largest mural works in Sweden. The imagery draws on the parables of the Gospels but is rendered with local references: figures appear in Jämtland costume and episodes are woven into a visual language that links biblical narrative to regional identity. Textile art also plays a visible role in the interior, including a notable ryamatta (woven hanging) produced in 1936.

Sculpture, liturgical fittings and craftwork

Sculptural and craft elements were created by prominent regional artists and workshops. The sculptor Olof Ahlberg contributes carved narrative panels; the baptismal font was designed by Sune Overud and local glasswork and metal fittings reflect Östersund’s skilled crafts tradition. Together these elements create an interior where stone, textile, paint and glass converse around liturgical furnishings.

The church in its urban and natural setting

Stora kyrkan sits on a slight rise within Östersund, visible in the townscape and oriented to offer views toward Storsjön and the distant Oviksfjällen. The combination of the tall nave, tower and copper spire gives the building a landmark quality when seen from surrounding streets and nearby open spaces. At ground level the granite base and tidy forecourt present the church as both a civic presence and a contemplative place.

Visitor experience and quiet details

Inside, the high central space is measured and luminous; daylight filters through tall windows to accent the mural and textiles while benches and nooks invite quiet reflection. Small details reward attention: the hand‑crafted brick patterns, the tonal patina of the copper tower, and the way the altarpiece folds figures and local motifs into its narrative. Whether encountered for a weekday service, a concert or a moment of solitude, the building projects a calm, regionally distinct dignity.