Katarina Kyrka

Katarina kyrka
January 2013 view of Katarina kyrka from outside
Basic information
Location	, Sweden
Geographic coordinates	59°19′01″N 18°04′41″E / 59.31694°N 18.07806°E / 59.31694; 18.07806
Affiliation	Church of Sweden
Rite	Protestant
Country	Sweden
Year consecrated	1724
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Parish church
Website	Official Website
Architectural description
Architectural style	Baroque
Completed	1695

Katarina kyrka (Church of Catherine) is one of the major churches in central , Sweden. The original building was constructed 1656–1695. It has been rebuilt twice after being destroyed by fires, the second time during the 1990s. The Katarina-Sofia borough is named after the parish and the neighbouring parish of Sofia.

Construction of the church started during the reign of Charles X of Sweden, and the church is named after Princess Catherine, mother of the king, wife of John Casimir, Palsgrave of Pfalz-Zweibrücken and half-sister of Gustavus Adolphus. The original architect was Jean de la Vallée. The construction was severely delayed due to shortage of funds.

In 1723 the church, together with half of the buildings in the parish, was completely destroyed in a major fire. Rebuilding started almost immediately, under supervision of Göran Josua Adelcrantz, the city architect, who designed a larger, octagonal tower.

May 17, 1990, the church burned down again. Almost nothing but the external walls remained. Architect Ove Hidemark was responsible for rebuilding the church, which was reopened in 1995. The new organ was built by J. L. van den Heuvel Orgelbouw in the Netherlands.

Several famous Swedes are buried in the cemetery surrounding the church, most notably the assassinated Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. Nationally popular Dutch-Swedish singer Cornelis Vreeswijk is another example.