Sankta Maria kyrka in Helsingborg

Sankta Maria kyrka is the oldest church in Helsingborg, with origins dating back to the 1100s. The current structure is a three-nave brick church from the 1400s, though sand stone from the older church was used in the base of the choir aisle and the western part. The church is designed as a pseudobasilica, featuring a raised central nave that does not rise high enough to accommodate windows between the roofs. Over the centuries, the building has evolved, including the addition of a staircase tower in the 1500s and the replacement of the lead roof with copper in the 1800s.

Significant renovations occurred in the 19th century. In 1843, the weapons house and the sacristy were demolished during a restoration based on plans by Carl Georg Brunius. The sacristy was later rebuilt in 1953 following the designs of Gustaf W Widmark. In July 1898, a contract was signed with the architect Alfred Hellerström to construct a new gallery. Today, the church remains a protected cultural heritage site.

The church houses a rich collection of historical items, including a 1400s altar piece and a Renaissance-style pulpit from the early 1600s. Its musical history is equally significant. While a notable organ was built in 1851 and several others followed, the current organ was built in 1959 by Marcussen & Søn in Aabenraa, Denmark. This organ features mechanical action and registration, with an electric registration for the pedals and a fully electric blower.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons