Gudhem Church
A passing look at Gudhem Church gives the impression of an early nineteenth century church. This is partly true, but over the centuries the church has been rebuilt several times according to the ideals of the times. The first church in Gudhem was probably built at the end of the eleventh century or the beginning of the twelfth century. The medieval church would most likely have kept its original appearance until the 1 560s. At that time, the Danes ravaged the region and the church was sacked and burnt. It took 30-40 years before the church was fit for use again. The old medieval church walls were then built up with stones from the ruin of the Abbey. Still, much of the medieval character of the church was kept. In the middle of the seventeenth century, a crypt for the Soop family was built along the southern wall of the church. One of the estates owned by the Soop family was Forentorp.
Towards the end of the eighteenth century, plans of replacing all the churches in Gudhem Parish with just one church were almost realised. This did not happen, and restoration work was later carried out at Gudhem church in 1811 -1815. Alterations were made to both the interior and the exterior of the church, giving it more or less the appearance it has today. Extensions were constructed in the years 1 898-1 900, for example the tower. Extensive renovation was carried out in 1951 -1952. The church walls were uncovered and remains of the medieval church came to light. New altar rails, a new pulpit, new benches, a new ceiling and a new chancel window were added during this renovation.
The latest renovation was completed in 1998-1999. The ceiling was then restored, and the altar rails and the entrance to the sacristy were moved. The interior of the church is today light and beautiful, with excellent acoustics. Above the altar, we can see Harald Lindberg's glass mosaic window with the name 'The Queen and the King of Heaven' — alluding to Queen Katarina Sunesdotter who is buried at the Abbey.
Gudhem Abbey
The Abbey of Gudhem was first mentioned in a papal document dating from around 1 1 75. The document tells us about Karl Sverkersson at Gudhem Kungsgård, who in 1 1 61 donated land, along with the church that had belonged to the Kungsgård, to a group of women for them to establish a convent. They were Cistercian nuns observing the routines of the eight canonical hours and the daily Mass. Many donators had stipulated in their wills that masses for the repose of their souls should be said for them after their demise. This meant that two, and sometimes three priests were needed to officiate at ten altars of the Abbey to fulfil this undertaking. It is thought that around thirty nuns and lay-sisters lived at the Abbey at the same time. There were also many overnight guests — so many that they took refuge at Rackeby during one period.
On 11 June 1250, the Abbey received a large donation from KatarinaSunesdotter, Queen Dowager, widow of King Erik Eriksson (The Lisp and Lame). The Abbey was extended and came to have a more significant role in the region. When Queen Katarina died, she was buried in 1253 inside the Abbey. Later medieval royalty also became patrons of the Abbey. Towards the end of the fourteenth century, the Union Queen Margareta made large donations of landed property, which meant that the Abbey also owned property in Denmark. The Abbey flourished for 400 years, a period that came to an end at the reformation. The nuns struggled to be able to stay, but in 1529 a fire laid waste to the Abbey. In 1533, all the property in Västergötland that had belonged to Gudhem Abbey was presented to the knight Olof Persson of Stora Bjurum, on the condition that he supported the nuns that were left in the area. In 1540, Gudhem was given to the King's nephew Per Brahe the Elder.
Gudhem Abbey ruin
For a long time after that, the Abbey ruin was used for quarrying stones. Per Brahe built his palace near Borås with stones from Gudhem Abbey. The stones for Gudhem Kungsgård, when it was rebuilt in 1 780-1 800, were taken from the Abbey ruin, and people in the neighbourhood took the opportunity to collect building material too, until a new law stopped this.
Four hundred years after the Abbey was abandoned , in 1928, Dr Stig Roth from Gothenburg conducted an archaeological excavation of the Abbey ruin, which by then was almost completely overgrown. The excavations continued each summer until 1950. Further excavations in 1968-1969, and in 1984 were conducted by Västergötland Museum in Skara. Many outstanding finds were discovered; some of these are now stored in the Abbey Museum, and in the stone warehouse that was constructed in 2023. Finds and the thorough archaeological documentation are kept at Västergötland Museum in Skara.
Gudhem Abbey Museum
The museum is owned by Gudhem Abbey Museum Association, founded 12 September 1943. Several attempts were made to build a museum near the Abbey ruin but the issue was not solved until the beginning of the 1990s when the old dilapidated smithy of Gudhem Kungsgård was bought. With the support from donations and contributions, the members of the museum association, along with other volunteers, could start the substantial renovation. The museum was ready to be opened in 1993. In 2023, the construction of the stone warehouse was finished. All the masonry that there is no space for in the museum can be kept in this building.
The information panels in the museum were rewritten and rearranged in 2023 by Dr Maria Vretemark, Västergötland Museum in Skara. There are also showcases displaying objects borrowed from Västergötland Museum and, above all, a coloured copy of Queen Katarina Sunesdotter's gravestone. The original is kept at the Historical Museum of Stockholm.
The Abbey Garden
A new Abbey Garden was created in 2023. Around thirty different herbs typical of a medieval abbey now grow in a modern design. On the 1 0 September 2023 — almost to the day 80 years after the museum association was founded, and 30 years after the museum opened — Bishop Åke Bonnier inaugurated the new stone warehouse, the rearranged exhibition and the new Abbey Garden.
Membership in Gudhem Abbey Museum Association
Support our work and pay 1 00 SEK, thereby becoming a member, either by bank giro 551 8-31 1 9 or Swish 1 23 453 1 8 69. State your name, address and preferably your e-mail address. More info at www.gudhem.se. Facebook: Gudhems klostermuseiförening
