© Gammelstads Kyrkstad
Nederluleå Church
The church in Gammelstad is the biggest mediaeval church in Northern Sweden. It was built in the 15th century, and according to tradition it was inaugurated by Archbishop Jacob Ulfsson in 1492.
The church has an added porch and vestry, a wood-shingle roof and brick ornamentation on the upper gables. The churchyard wall has two entrances, the northern one of which is in its original state. The entrances contain walled-over loopholes and in the east gable of the church there is a spy hole. This indicates that the church has been used as a sanctuary in times of unrest. The whitewashed bell tower was built in 1851 and replaced an older wooden bell tower to the north-west of the churchyard at the highest point of the hill.
The church interior is richly ornamented and furnished. The late-mediaeval frescoes in the chancel are by the School of Albertus Pictor. They were whitewashed over in the 18th century but restored in 1909. To the right of the altar there are mediaeval pews and a reconstructed bishop´s throne or cathedra.
The triptych above the altar, with its throng of wooden figures telling the story of the Passion of Christ is among the finest in Sweden. It was built in Antwerp in around 1520 and cost 900 silver marks, and enormous sum which the farmers of Luleå are said to have paid in cash. The pulpit and memorial tablets were made by Nils Jacobsson Fluur at the beginning of the 18th century.
The impressive church organ was inaugurated in 1971. It has 55 stops and 4,200 pipes varying in length from 5mm to 6m. The organ was built by Grönlunds Organ Builders AB in Gammelstad.