Medelplana kyrka
Kinnekulle

History of the Church

The medieval church consisted of a rectangular nave separated from the square chancel by a triumphal arch. The chancel ended in a straight eastern wall. A porch on the south-west side served as the main entrance for the congregation, while a sacristy stood on the north-east side. Adjacent to the sacristy was the Gyllengrip family burial chapel. The church was covered by medieval stone vaults that were whitewashed.

In 1763, the master builder Johan Gottleb Günther of Skara produced plans to rebuild the church as a cruciform church. The proposal was never fully carried out, however. Instead, only an archway was opened into the tower, where seating was installed on the ground floor. At that time, the church also featured two galleries, the fronts of which were decorated with paintings by Johan Aureller the Younger.

As the church became too small for its growing congregation, it was extensively rebuilt between 1823 and 1824, giving it much of its present appearance. The reconstruction was carried out by the master builder Pehr Eriksson of Bredared, following designs by Carl-Gustav Blom-Carlsson, Professor of Architecture at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm.

Sandstone was quarried in Västerplana, while timber came from the forests of Kinne. The total cost of construction amounted to 666 riksdaler and 32 skilling, and no additional parish tax was required to finance the project. Although some finishing work remained, the rebuilt church was put into use in 1824. The interior decoration was completed by the decorative painter Johan Petter Hökenstedt of Medelplana, and the church was consecrated on 26 September 1830 by Bishop Sven Lundblad in conjunction with the installation of the new parish priest.

From the original medieval church, the tower and parts of the western and eastern walls remain. These medieval sections are still clearly visible inside the church, particularly along the western wall. The church was extended to the north and south rather than to the east, as an eastern extension would have encroached on the nearby road.

The medieval lychgate at the northern entrance to the churchyard has also survived. An old poor box is still mounted there.

A major restoration was undertaken in 1902. During this work, the present five-sided sacristy was added to the north end of the church. Before then, the ground floor of the tower had served as the sacristy. Until 1902, the church also featured a traditional pulpit altar, with the pulpit positioned above and behind the altar and a large circular window bearing the Christ monogram behind it. Older parishioners later recalled this unusual arrangement.

In the same year, the tower received its present tall copper-clad spire, replacing an earlier one that had been blown down during a severe storm. The current pews were also installed during this restoration.

Further restoration work took place between 1926 and 1927, when several historic furnishings were repaired and returned to the church. Another comprehensive restoration followed in 1964–1965. Most of the choir pews were removed, with only one remaining beside the pulpit. A bridal room was created at the west end of the church, while several memorial tablets and portrait gravestones were rearranged to create a brighter and more harmonious interior. New liturgical cupboards were also installed in the sacristy.

In 1980, the church interior was whitewashed and repainted. New gutters were fitted and repairs were carried out to the church walls. By then, the church was considered to be in excellent condition. A further extensive restoration of the tower and its roof was completed in 1997.

The Silver Treasure

In 1611, Danish forces raided the region and burned the town of Skara. At that time, the parish priest of Medelplana, Jonas Andersson Grodt, feared that the church valuables would be looted. He gathered his own silver together with what is believed to have been the church silver—according to historical records, two silver chalices and a silver wafer box—and travelled east from the vicarage to a small stream near the croft of Kollängen.

There he buried the treasure to protect it from the advancing army. Grodt died shortly afterwards and never revealed the hiding place.

According to a local legend that survives to this day, the shadow of the church tower points to the treasure on one particular day and at one particular time each year. Another story tells of two shepherd boys in the 19th century who discovered the treasure in a rocky crevice while tending their animals. They hurried home to tell others, but when they returned they could no longer find the spot.

Many people have searched the surrounding countryside ever since, yet no one is known to have found the hidden silver. It may have been discovered long ago and melted down, or perhaps the entire story is nothing more than a legend. Whatever the truth may be, the mysterious silver treasure of Medelplana continues to guard its secret.

Church Guide

The Church Guide app provides additional information about the churches in the region and can also be used as a guide during your visit. Download it here.

Getting Here by Public Transport

By Train

You can reach Medelplana Church by taking the Kinnekulle Line operated by Västtågen and getting off at Trolmen Station. From there, it is approximately 3.4 kilometres on foot to the church.

Journey planning is available through the Västtrafik website or the Västtrafik To Go app.

By Demand-Responsive Transport (Närtrafik)

Närtrafik, operated by Västtrafik, is an on-demand transport service designed for rural areas. It collects passengers from any address within a designated service area and transports them to a bus stop within the same municipality.

How it works:

• Book by calling +46 (0)771 91 90 90 at least one hour before departure, within the scheduled operating hours.
• The fare is the same as a regular single public transport ticket.
• Payment can be made via the Västtrafik app, by card, or in cash.
• Senior travel cards are accepted (subject to inspection), while Västtrafik period passes are not valid on Närtrafik services.