The Church of Saltvik

Popular Aland church stamps series

This year the church of Saltvik is nex in line of the popular Aland church series. It is the fiftheenth church stamp over the years.
The church of Saltvik is consecrated to St. Mary, and in the old days it was regarded as the main church of Aland. It is situated near the Bay of Kvarnbo, which was an important harbour in prehistoric and medieval times. One of Aland's largest grave-fields from the Iron Age is only hundred metres from the church.

Church of Saltvik

The church of Saltvik has been built in several stages. Construction of the oldest parts of the present church, the nave and vestry, began at the end of the 13th century. At the time the church replaced an older wooden church, The church porch and tower is of a younger date and probably built at the end of the 14th century. Remaining parts were built in the 19th century except the present vaults, which were re-built in the mid-1950s.

Beautiful church furnishings

The many beautiful church furnishings include a medieval triumph crucifix, an unusual baptismal font with a four-sided basin dating to the 13th century, a 14th century altar screen as well as an altar-piece of the Last Supper from the 17th century. The church was restored and archaeologically excavated in the 1950s. At the same time excavations were made of the churchyard, which resulted in finding, among other things, a led crucifix and a large number of medieval coins.

Church played an important role in the Aland society

The area around the church played an important role in the Aland society for a long time and was the site for all older county councils we know of today. A memorial with the inscription "court site, trading place, cult site" is today found outside the church. The court site was commemorated on an Aland stamp already in 1986; an issue that still is available to order by Aland Post.
Issue: Aland, 9 October 2002

More information

Stamps Aland
Postage Stamps 2002