Lillhärdal church

Lillhärdal Church is Härjedalen's only remaining medieval church. The church began construction in the 15th century, but now has parts from both the 18th and 19th centuries.

The first church building was built around 1050 and was located by the river. It was at the time of the pilgrimages to Nidaros, after the death of Olof the Saint. Lillhärdal was then an important junction for the pilgrims' route. When the water level rose, the current church was built in 1407. Over time, the church was not enough, so an extension was carried out in 1770-1771 under the leadership of Per Olofsson in Dillne. In 1780 the new church was consecrated. This was a towerless, whitewashed hill church. A wooden church tower was built in 1805 by the master builder Påhl Persson, Stugun.

During an extensive restoration in 1880, it was completely changed. The old 18th-century Rococo church was replaced with a 19th-century church in white and gold. In 1938, it was restored again and the old 18th-century paintings were brought out again.

The altar and altarpiece were built by Johan Edler the Elder in the 1770s, as was the pulpit and probably the baptismal font, which is a wooden angel.

Both church bells are from the church's earliest history and have been recast a couple of times, the first time in 1664 when they cracked after the death of Charles X Gustav.

The church is a fixed point for the people of Lillhärdal with many special events that return year after year. The congregation is connected to living local traditions, of which there are many in the village

"Prayer Monday", the second Monday in October, is a unique and old holiday celebrated in Lillhärdal. The day means that everyone is off from work and school, and has its origins in the old society where workers could only stop their work and start a new one during a period of a few days each year. This tradition has been maintained here to this day. The congregation celebrates a service in the church with a subsequent mission auction. This is one of the most well-attended services during the year.

Book guiding of the church with Emma Jönses via e-mail: smemma.jonses@gmail.com

Next to the church there is a tin box with pilgrim passports and pilgrim stamps for those walking the St Olav Rombo Way pilgrimage trail.