From the middle to the present. Frösön is the largest of lake Storsjön´s islands. According to old Scandinavian myths the island was dedicated to Fröj, the god of fertility.
Northern Sweden´s only rune stone can be found, today, beside Hornsbergs church, next to the bridge to Östersund. The inscription on the stone tells us that Östman Gudfast´s son introduced Christianity to Jämtland in the middle of the 11th century.
800 years ago
Frösö church was built at the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th century. The layout today is the same as the original with the exception of the sacristy or vestry which was added later. The Lower part of the porch is in fact a part of a tower from the middle ages, the upper portion of which was partly pulled down and partly fell down during the 18th century.A bridal chamber was added on the northern wall in 1985 an houses a tapestry designed and woven by Kerstin Bränngård.
Originally the church had two entrances. The main entrance was situated in the south wall of the nave and the other in the south wall of the chapel. Both of these are now closed in although a part of the chapel entrance was preserved as a niche containing paintings from the 17th century.
There were originally two galleries, on the panels of which were paintings representing biblical figures in 16th century costumes. These paintings are preserved and located on the present organ gallery. The old pulpit which can be found today in Handöls Lappchapel, and the pew-doors were carved in low relief. A part of the pulpit with Norwegian text hangs on the north wall. Jämtland belonged to Norway until 1645. The christening font of limestone was donated by Captain Treffenberg and his wife.
The rococo style
The present altar dates from 1708 and the altar rails from 1778. The new pulpit was designed in rococo style by the sculptor Johan Edler in 1781.Fire destroys the wall paintings
During the restoration of the church in 1885 much of the old individuality of the interior was destroyed and the church received a commonplace and simple appearance. A violent fire in 1898 left only the walls standing but all of the church´s inventory was saved. The few wall paintings that were left from the 16th century were destroyed by the fire.
The church was rebuilt after the fire but it wasn´t before 1930, when the interior was restored once again, that it gained an appearance with was approximately the same as it originally had.
The Birgitta Bell
The belfry with its singular shape, typical of Jämtland, was erected in 1754 and is the work of Pehr Olofsson from Dillne in Oviken. The large bell, the so called Birgitta Bell is from the 14th century and, judging from the bellmakers mark on the bell, was cast in Stockholm. According to an old legend, the Holy Birgitta is said to have passed through Frösön on her pilgrim journey to Olav the Holys grave in Trondheim. The small bell dates from the 18th century, re-cast in 1749.In the churchyard rest ancestors of all ages dating back to heathen times. Wilhelm Peterson-Berger is buried next to the south wall.
Outside the church there is a fantastic view over the lake, its villages and the mountains.
