The first written record of a church on the site of current Bladåker Church dates from 1316. The presently visible church, however, dates from the late 15th or early 16th century, with the exception of the sacristy (13th century) which is the only remains of the earlier, probably otherwise wooden, church. The church is constructed of fieldstone, with brick having been used for details and decorations in the façade. The external bell tower, made of wood, was erected in 1748. Inside, the church is decorated with frescos, dating from 1623. These were painted over during the 18th century but have since been restored. Among the church furnishings, a late medieval sculpture of the Holy Virgin and a number of wooden funeral coat of arms from the local nobility can be mentioned. The altarpiece is especially noteworthy as it was painted by Anna Maria Ehrenstrahl and donated by her to the church.
The church lies in a small hamlet, containing several well-preserved historical farmhouses and the former church school.
References:The church of the former Franciscan monastery was built probably between 1515 and 1520. It is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Rauma. The church stands by the small stream of Raumanjoki (Rauma river).
The exact age of the Church of the Holy Cross is unknown, but it was built to serve as the monastery church of the Rauma Franciscan Friary. The monastery had been established in the early 15th century and a wooden church was built on this location around the year 1420.
The Church of the Holy Cross served the monastery until 1538, when it was abandoned for a hundred years as the Franciscan friary was disbanded in the Swedish Reformation. The church was re-established as a Lutheran church in 1640, when the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity was destroyed by fire.
The choir of the two-aisle grey granite church features medieval murals and frescoes. The white steeple of the church was built in 1816 and has served as a landmark for seafarers.