Interiors
The artistic decorations in the churches are
elaborate. The Gothic frescos in Lemland, Jomala and Sund are
considerably older than their equivalents in the rest of Finland. The
same goes for the wooden sculptures in the church of Finström, dating
back to the end of the 10th century. In the church of Sund there is a
5.06 meter tall triumph crucifix from the 11th century.
At the end of the 13th century,
the art of fresco paining and wooden sculpture decorating flourished
once again. In the church of Kumlinge, for example, the walls and arch
are covered in frescos.
High up in the ceiling sails
the church ships, a common sight in the Åland churches. In the church
of Kökar is a genuine votive ship; a church ship donated by a sailor
who in distress at sea promised God a ship in exchange for his life. In
the entranceway of the church of Sund you may admire a votive painting
from 1671. The painting is the only one of its kind preserved in Åland.
Photo: Projekt Ålands Kyrkor, fresco in the church of Kumlinge