Lund Cathedral

Lund Cathedral
Lunds domkyrka
55°42′15″N 13°11′36″E / 55.70417°N 13.19333°E / 55.70417; 13.19333
Location	Lund
Country	Sweden
Denomination	Church of Sweden
Previous denomination	Church of Denmark (until 1658) Roman Catholic (until the Reformation)
Website	Website of the Cathedral
History
Status	Cathedral
Founded	Late 11th century
Dedication	Saint Lawrence[1]
Consecrated	30 June 1123 (crypt) 1 September 1145 (main altar)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Ecclesiastical monument in the buildings database of the Swedish National Heritage Board.[2]
Architect(s)	Donatus Adam van Düren Carl Georg Brunius Helgo Zettervall
Style	Romanesque Neo-Romanesque
Specifications
Length	85 m (279 ft)[3]
Width	30 m (98 ft)[3]
Height	55 m (180 ft) (to the top of the towers)[4]
Administration
Diocese	Lund
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Johan Tyrberg

Lund Cathedral (Swedish: Lunds domkyrka) is a cathedral of the Lutheran Church of Sweden in Lund, Scania, Sweden. It is the seat of the Bishop of Lund and the main church of the Diocese of Lund. It was built as the Catholic cathedral of the archiepiscopal see of all the Nordic countries, dedicated to Saint Lawrence. It is one of the oldest stone buildings still in use in Sweden.

Lund Cathedral has been called "the most powerful representative of Romanesque architecture in the Nordic countries". At the time of its construction, Lund and the cathedral belonged to Denmark. The main altar was consecrated in 1145 and the cathedral was by that time largely finished; the western towers were built somewhat later. Its architecture show clear influences from contemporary north Italian architecture, conveyed via the Rhine Valley. The earliest architect was named Donatus, though his precise role in the construction of the cathedral is difficult to determine. The new cathedral was richly decorated with stone sculpture, including two unusual statues in the crypt traditionally called "The giant Finn and his wife" about which a local legend has developed. The cathedral was severely damaged in a fire in 1234, and major restoration works were carried out in the early 16th century under the leadership of Adam van Düren. Following the Reformation, the cathedral suffered from lost income and dilapidation. In 1658, the city of Lund and the cathedral became a part of Sweden following the Treaty of Roskilde. Lund Cathedral was the site of the ceremony acknowledging the founding of Lund University in 1668. Repairs were made during the 18th century but in 1832 a complete restoration of the cathedral was recommended. Subsequently, much of the cathedral was restored and rebuilt during most of the 19th century. The work was first led by Carl Georg Brunius and later by architect Helgo Zettervall and not entirely finished until 1893. The changes implemented during the 19th century were extensive; among other things, Zettervall had the entire western part, including the towers, demolished and rebuilt to his own designs.

The medieval cathedral contains several historic furnishings and works of art. Its main altarpiece was donated to the cathedral in 1398, and it also contains Gothic choir stalls, bronzes and an astronomical clock from the 15th century (although heavily restored in 1923). When it was built, Lund Cathedral was lavishly decorated with Romanesque stone sculptures. It also contains late medieval stone sculptures from the time of Adam van Düren's renovation. After the Reformation the cathedral was also equipped with a decorated pulpit. Of more recent date is the large mosaic in the apse, by Joakim Skovgaard, installed in 1927. Lund Cathedral has six church organs, one of which is the largest in Sweden, and is also used as a concert venue.