The old church in Hyssna has for centuries been the place of Christian worship for the people of this rural community. Dating back to the 12th century it is one of the oldest preserved churches in western Sweden. Please preserve its sanctity and enjoy the echoes of the past as they vibrate with the voices of the present.
Memories of the Past
Upon entering the church you first notice the altarpiece showing Christ wearing a crown, revealing its 12th century origin when Christ the Lord was still depicted as Christ the Victor. The suffering Christ, Christ crowned with thorns, is the image used much later, towards the middle of the 15th century.
Dating back to the same period is the sculpture to the left of the altar, by the wall, of Maria with the infant Jesus, holding a flower in his hand.
The other image of Maria is from the 16th century. The medieval Christening Font was restored to the old Church of Hyssna in 1994. Together with a Procession Crucifix and a sculpture of the Arch-Angel Michael, the Christening Font had been collected by the Museum of History in Stockholm at the end of the last century.
Only the Font has been returned to Hyssna, the Crucifix and the Angel still remain in Stockholm. The Christening Font is cut out of two blocks of stone, the base out of sandstone from the Swedish Baltic island province of Gotland and the cup out of sandstone from the Hyssna home province of Västergotland. The Cup of the Christening Font dates back to the period of transition from paganism to Christianity. It is divided into ten fields decorated variously with ornaments of lilies, human figurines and crosses. Around the upper edge of the Cup runs a leafy vine.
The Bells of Hyssna Old Church
Three Bells belong to the Old Church of Hyssna. The Kersti Bell hanging under the ceiling to the left of the altar is a prime-bell from the middle Ages, used to toll in every new turnout of worshippers to receive the Holy Communion.
The Siri Bell hangs inside the tower. The Siri Bell was moved to the New Church of Hyssna. built in 1907, but in the 1940's she was returned to the Old Church
The old Karin Bell, the biggest of the three bells was moved permanently to the New Church. Legend has it that all three bells are founded in the "bell caves" of the islet in the small river Surtan running outside the Old Church.
Other Remarkable Features of Hyssna Old Church.
Located above the altar is the Fiddler Gallery. The fiddlers at weddings used this Gallery. At the opposite side of the Church, above the entrances is the Music Gallery. The Church Organ there was built in 1871 by an organist in neighbouring Hajom. This organ is the last remaining organ of his hand.From the Fiddler Gallery hangs the Medieval Incensory.
A Master Andreas Falk made the Frontal Paintings of the Music Gallery. Andreas Falk also made the Paintings in the Ceiling in 1696, which were completed by Sven Vernberg in 1730, an artist from-Gothenburg.
Among the articles of traditional values to the old church of Hyssna, and the cultural and religious history it embraces is the so-called Church Pestle. The Pestle was used by the by the Church Warden to alert anyone half asleep among the' worshippers to the commencement of the sermon.
Also displayed in the Church are the Wafer Iron and the Candle Mould. It was the responsibility of the Wives of the Church Wardens to bake the sacramental wafers for the Holy Communion. Their duties also comprised keeping the incensory filled with dry herbs. When candles were made, they were sometime made in moulds. At other times the tallow was rolled out and a thick wick of cotton was placed on top of it. The tallow was then rolled up-like a Swiss roll-to make a candle.
The Seating in the Old Church.
Each farm had their own bench in church, with the men sitting on one side and the women on the other side of the aisle. As you enter the Church, girls and women were seated to the left and boys and men to the right.
The well to-do and powerful had their seats closest to the altar, while the poor, crofters and cotters had their seats at the back of the church. Side-galleries, intended for the maids and farmhands, existed earlier on. However legend has it that some of the maids refused to ascend the new side-galleries and instead forced their way to the seating on the floor. Consequently they were threatened with fines and having to pay 8 öre for, breaking the rules of the Church. The first bench on the men's side in the church was the so-called "Public Officials Chair". The Parish Artisans occupied it and the Churchwardens had also their own special benches.
The Long Chair on the north side was reserved for the Brides at Weddings and for the Godparents at Christenings. Later on this long chair was referred to as the Wife's Chair.
The Old Church was deserted
Hyssna Old Church has been renovated and extended several times during the centuries. In the early part of the 18th century an extensive renovation was made. A new altarpiece and a pulpit were then installed. The sculptor Master Gustav Kihlman made them both from Borås in 1696 and they are now found in the New Church.
Discussions started in the middle of 19th century to further extend the church but no agreement was reached. Instead, the congregation agreed upon the to build a New Church at another site and land was acquired 1896 for a new cemetery and a new church building. The New Church was inaugurated 1907 and became the place of worship for the congregation. The Old Church was deserted and plans were made to tear it down, but permission was not granted from the authorities.
The roof of the Old Church started to leak and the Ceiling Paintings and other treasures of the church were allowed to deteriorate. But in the beginning of the 1920's efforts were made to restore the Old Church to its previous condition and status and a pulpit was made out of old material from the side galleries that earlier had been removed. The Medieval Crucifix was placed over the altar. Thanks to these efforts the church now stands as a memorial and gives us an opportunity to share the experiences of the generations that lived their lives in this congregation long before us.
House of Worship
Today, Hyssna Old Church enjoys a thriving popularity as a real summer church. Open to the public for private prayers and solitude during the months of June, July and August, Hyssna Old Church is the traditional and spontaneous choice for school commencements, national commemoration day celebrations, weddings and Christenings. Every Thursday night throughout the summer the congregation of Hyssna meets here for a vesper.
