Husaby Kyrka, Kinnekulle. King Skotkonnung, Burial Ground

Husaby Church, Kinnekulle 

Saint Sigfrid

King Olof Skotkonnung

Kinnekulle, Husaby Kyrka, Sweden

Husaby Kyrka is at Kinnekulle, an area that is now a nature preserve, but the villages remain.  It dates from the 9th Century, say some source, probably referring to the activity of Saint Anskar or Ansgar or Anscarius in 830. Did he also build a church?  His missionary work did not survive, however, and all converts went back to the old ways.  See http://www.bartleby.com/210/2/152.html (section referring to the later Saint Sigefried). 

The first Christian King, Olof Skotkonung (Olas Scobcong) was baptized here by Saint Sigfrid, or Sigurd, or Sigefried. See the story of the baptism of the King and his whole army, so it says at the 1866 Index to All Saints, Saint Sigefried, or Sigfrid, Bishop, Apostle of Sweden http://www.bartleby.com/210/2/152.html.   Sigfrid came from Vaxjo in about 1045. Vaxjo is spelled there in the phonetic, Wexiow -- said with a double cough sound.  He left his sons behind at Vaxjo on this missionary journey, and then they were murdered.  Sigfrid was Benedictine, from York, England.  Famous also is the account of the Dozen Converts, principal men of the area of Wexiow-Vaxjo, and the twelve churches Sigfrid is said to have founded.

The tower originally consisted of a center tower, originally used also for defense, and now with pointy steeple.  The two side towers were probably added. Steeples that look like witches' hats are usually a remodel from an older square-based, but squat top, coming to a low point.

1.  Scots connection.

Husaby also is a surname found in Scotland or England in Leicestershire where the Husabies were Lords of the Manor of Hose, and further back, stemming from Robert of Normandy - Ah, Normans, Northmen, Vikings. From there to Sweden? Or Swedish first?  see http://www.houseofnames.com/husaby-family-crest.

There was a movement of Scots to Sweden 1569-1654 to supply Sweden's merchant and military needs for growth, see An Unofficial Alliance, Scotland and Sweden, at http://www.brill.nl/unofficial-alliance-scotland-and-sweden-1569-1654, and some did remain and become nobility (no nobility now, but the names remain).

2.  If the Husaby name is related to the Scots, however, that dates it far later than the founding of the church. There would be an earlier 9th Century original name of the church, not Husaby. All references we find so far refer to Husaby.  Pre-Scot or a reverse migration? Find other Scots names in Swedish like  Ramsay, Drummond, Leslie, Hepburn, Douglas, Forbes, Hamilton, Montrose, Stewart.  Some returned to Scotland.  See http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sweden/17-2.htm

3.  Husaby in novels.  Author Sigrid Undset also wrote a three book series, Mistress of Husaby, based on a character called Kristin Lavransdatter, not read yet but noted, and apparently not Scots but Scandinavian context. Where to find birth and other records? Start Geneology website, Ancestry dot com, Sweden, Counties, Vastragotland

Husaby Kyrka, tomb of King Olof Skotkonung

The King is buried in an above-ground sarcophagus, or is he below and this just for show above? 

Husaby Kyria, Picture relief series, tomb of King Skotkonnung, Kinnekulle SE

The figures with the Mitre and staff could be two scenes of Saint Sigfrid, then a Bishop.  The one on the left could be Saint Botvid, also in Sweden in about 1120, often shown carrying a fish. See http://saint-botvid.co.tv/

Husaby Kyrka, tomb of Queen Estrid, with detail of Elf or Ellen Cross. Estrid is the wife of King Olof Skotkonung

Scandinavian pre-Christian elements.

There are many examples of The Elf Cross or Ellen Cross in Sweden.  It differs from a crucifixion cross,  is equal sided, bulbing out at the ends, as though a circle surrounded.  It originated possibly in from Scania Sweden (the flatter plateau area just to the south, and maybe Kinnekulle also is in Scania?).  It is on grave markers,  also seen on household objects as protection and did not necessarily originate as Christian.  It traditionally protected against mischievous trolls, elves, evil magic.  The form was later absorbed into the general concept of a crucifixion cross, but those are clearly different with a long axis and a short cross part. See http://www.ealaindraoi.com/religious_gifts_christian_crosses_confirmation_gift/elf_cross_ella_swedish_cross_christian_symbol.html 

Did Estrid convert to Christianity?  Only Skotkonnung was baptized, we hear.

Husaby Kyrka, tombs of King Skotkonnung and Queen Estrid, at entrance doorway of Queen Estrid, wife of King Olof Skotkonung, First Christian King

The gravel walkways are carefully raked; and if stepped upon, a caretaker will re-rake, all during the day sometimes.  Not just AM or PM. This is a common grooming task at the churches.  The rakes are wooden, wide, and with heavy rigid straight prongs.

Husaby Church, tomb placement, King Scotkonung and Gueen Estridr

Find photographs of the interior and exterior at http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/1756362/
That site notes that the back of a grave stone, identified as one of the royal tombs, has the inscription that means "Happy at last." That sounds a little too jolly and modern for royalty in the middle ages, so we checked our file.  Perhaps the back of the gravestone pictured at Tabblo is instead Fredrick Olof Gyllenspitz, 1718-1789. 

Husaby Church, grave of one Fredrick Olof Gyllenspetz 1718-1789.  Here lies an honest man.

His inscription reads, "Har Hvilar En Arlig Man".

Translate that:  Here lies an honest man.  Nice.

Check the tabblo site for their photo: Would an honest man's stone have "Happy at last" behind?  Maybe.

Other stones have this shape, see the top photo here, lower left.  Gyllenspetz is entirely on gravel, but we can't tell if the Happy man is on the gravel as well.