The Riddarholmen Church

The Riddarholmen Church was founded in 1285 when King Magnus made a donation to the Franciscan Order so they could built a Convent church at Riddarholmen. The Riddarholmen Church of today can trace its origin back to the Convent church of the Franciscans at that time. The Franciscan friars where called Greybrothers because their cloths where grey. The Riddarholmen Church was from 1634 until 1950 the Royal Funeral Church and many of the Swedish Kings, Queens and families are buried there. Since 1807 the church is only used only for burial and commemorative purposes and has no congregation.

On the drawing above you can see a cross section of the church with some red dots. If you put your mouse over the dots you will get more information about that part of the church. To the right hand side of the drawing is east and to the left hand side is west.

The middle aisle of the church, you can see it clearly on the drawing above, is the oldest part of the church and can trace its origin back to the 13:th century. The top asile is called the South Aisle and the botten aisle is called the North Aisle.

Besides the Chapels where Royal Families and famous Field Marshals with their families are buried there are tombs everyvhere in the church. To enter the church and read who is buried at all the various tombs is as walking through the history of Sweden.

Entrance to the Riddarholmen Church:
Birger Jarls torg 3 at Riddarholmen.
GPS(WGS84): Lat N 59° 19′ 28″ Lon E 18° 3′ 50″

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In the Riddarholmen Church you find all the Order of the Seraphim, coat of arms, for Knights (members) that are no longer living. As long as a Knight (member) is alive their coat of arm is presented in the Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry at the Royal Castle. When they die their coat fo arm is tranferred to the Riddarholmen Church which also rings the bells for one hour.

The Order of the Seraphim is the most outstanding distinction in Sweden with only one class with the dignity of Knight. Today it is only awarded Head of States or persons of equal status and members of the Royal Family

To the right you can see the coat of arms for King Carl XVI Gustaf and the German Emperor Wilhelm II. King Carl XVI Gustaf's coat of arms is to been seen at the Royal Castle since he is very much alive but the coat of arms for the German Emperor is in the Rriddarholms Church since he died June 4:th in 1941.