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.

Kinnekulle - Nature Preserve, Old Towns, Churches; even Medieval

Gotene Area

Kinnekulle 
Osterlund Parish Hunt

1.  Location

We are coming from Mariestad, to the north, toward Kinnekulle, still on Lake Vanern.  There is a sudden plateau rising up in its own flat way, and now comprised of a nature preserve. Go there for hiking, flora-fauna, with the old villages and churches still intact.  The plateau is visible from a distance. With the rest of the land so flat, this does stand out. On the way, south of Mariestad, is the Gotene area. That is where the fine old church, Kinne-Vedum is located, before coming to Kinnekulle area itself.

Kinnekulle, Nature Preserve, plateau

I am confident that some of our photos are mixed - there turned out to be so may fine old churches, and interesting scenes. Need time to research this saint or that, from the symbols.

2.  Orienting for Kinnekulle.

Sibbe the Hitcher went to Kinnekulle just because it was there.  He offers a thoughtful overview of the elk hunting once in the area, the King's preserve around here, and towns like Halleberg and Hunneberg on the lake and inland.  See http://www.sibbethehitcher.com/2009_09_01_archive.html  We are still at Lake Vanern. Kinnekulle area juts out, a peninsula. 

Sibbe says it is possible to see 63 churches from up there, and we believe it.

3.  Churches, churches.

Here is a site for the ones just in the Parish of Gotene, at  www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=720269.  Somebody named Bike Tommy has a fine album of many of the churches, for your overview, at http://www.panoramio.com/user/3186716/tags/kyrka?photo_page=7   For grave hunters, there were three main parishes on the plateau itself, Osterplana, Medelplana, Vasterplana. Then, on the downslope, partially on the flats, were five more:  Husaby (we think that is ours); Kinne-Kleva, Kestad, Fullosa and Fesham.

Fesham. Is that our Forshem?

Get the names before you get there. We think we are looking for Forshem, Husaby, St. Johannes. Looking for the old parish of the Osterlunds, whose Osterlund name (for all the children) we cannot connect to the parents, Kajsa Johannesdotter and Anders Petr Olausson; spellings differ.Petr, Peter, Per, Pehr.



6.  History

This area must have been central to the earliest late medieval conversion efforts of the Catholic Church, later Lutheranized, and the churches are unbelievably old, for the lack of publicity they get. Jaw-dropping medieval churches.  Small frequent parishes, to accommodate people who walk or ride to wagon to church from local farms.At a lake, perhaps the weather was more moderate?

7. Go south.

Beware.  Approach Kinnekulle from the north, and you get no help. Where are the signs to anything?  Our map was reasonably good, still, we ended up on all the back roads, and we finally just drove it like a ouija board. It was only when we  headed out of the area that we saw that all the signs are for those coming north from the south.  So:  go past and south first, find the main access road in, and take it.

"Home." 1929 Kinnekulle, Husaby; Granna, Boxholm, Ekeby,

Preservation

Looks-back through a camera's eye.

Kajsa Johannesdotter 1829-1933 and Anders Petr Olausson 1836-1878 -- Kajsa then apparently lived at Kinnekulle, attended Husaby Church, and raised the five children there:  John August, Sophie, Frank, Lenus, Anna Matilda (here), Selma Elizabet, Carolina, Otto William, and Josephine.  Anna and her husband, Philip Widing from Boxholm, returned twice to visit after everybody came to the US on both sides -- Philadelphia for many Widings, Chicago and elsewhere for the Kajsa-Petr children, who seem to have taken a new name, Osterlund, at some point.  In Sweden or here?

We can't tell the 1929 photos from the (is it 1933??) so we call them all 1929-1933.  Nothing is firm. Identifications come from the backs of the pictures so far.

"Home" --Anna Osterlund Widing on the left, photo 1929-33 and ?

Home for Anna Matilda Osterlund Widing would be at Kinnekulle, which village?

Anna Widing 1929-32, center, windy

The vertical wooden slats for structures are common. Does that keep out cold better than horizontals?

Was this a reunion trip?  Folks went sightseeing.

Alvastra Cloister is the ruin of a Cistercian Monastery founded by the French in 1143. It is in Ostergotlund. We did not get there, but this is a photo from relatives from the area, back in 1929-1932 or so. See ://www.raa.se/cms/en/places_to_visit/our_historical_sites/alvastra_monestary.html/

Alvastra Closter 1929 or 1932, ruin

Family -- ID as we go.  On the back, this one says, "Take good care of this. It is the only one we have."

Done.

William Widing, my husband's grandfather, one of four Widing sons, second from left, back row; Anna Matilda Osterlund Widing, his wife, front row, with tea. 

Boxholm, family photo, 1929 or 1932. Back 2d from left, Philip Widing; front, 3d from left, Anna Widing

The little boy front right looks like this one below, at the big hedge.

Boy at hedge, Sweden 1929-1933. Boxholm? Kinnekulle?

More sightseeing.

Brahe Slott, or Brahehus Slott or Castle, dates from the mid-1600's.  It is near Jonkoping, Granna, and served as a suitable lodging for noted guests, distance special envoys, and the like.  See ://www.associatedcontent.com/slideshow/57498/slideshow_of_brahehus_slott_ruins_in.html/ We did not get there, but this is a family photo from 1929-33.

Brahe Slott (castle) 1929, near Granna, Sweden

That would be the big lake Vanern at the base of the cliff there, I think.

Philip Widing, husband of Anna, and his cousins from Granna; wife Anna Widing in front

Maybe Josephine here, Aunt Josie, sister of Anna, daughter of Kajsa Johannesdotter, Sweden 1929-1932

Ekeby Kyrka, Boxholm Municipality, Sweden

There are several churches called "Ekeby" - see ://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ekeby_kyrka:  at Gotland, Narke, Skane, Uppland, Ostergotland.  The Ekeby Kyrka at the Linkoping Diocese seems closest to Boxholm at Boxholm Municipality, West Yorkshire, about a mile south of Mjolby and a mile N-NW of Boxholm, and 5 km NW of Stralsnas, that from various sites. We did not know of it at the time so just have to go back.

"Mellosa" on back, Sweden. Anna Osterlund Widing, and is that Farfar, or grandfather?

Farfar's Kors, Grandfather's cross, Ekeby Kyrka? Hans Widing?

We looked in lots of church years for Widings, and found none -- are they here, at Ekeby? We hear now of an early Hans Widing. Is he buried at Ekeby. 

Farmor (Grandmother) and "Misdie" or Miadia? Sweden 1929-1932.  Anna is back row, middle. 

An Osterlund daughter, immigrated, Canton, Ohio

The back reads something like "har ai ja i min bakjard taget farliden sommar var just pershig att bart Wilma Kahre Canton Ohio."

Husaby Kyrka, Kinnekulle area, Kajsa Johannesdotter's Church? Sweden. Osterlunds?

Lee and Family group

Who is Lee?  Front says "Lee and family. At this end: Darlene in arms, Allrin, Irene, Bobby and Frank (over).  Back says: "This was taken four years ago.  The last time we were all together.  The couple not marked are Lil's brother and his wife.  The couples are Frank and Lil, Oscar and Leona, Bill Marie and Dona Belle."