Skabersjö Church was built during the 12th century. Originally, it consisted of an apse, choir, and nave. The tower was added later, as was the large northern extension built in 1745. Inside, the nave is equipped with two cross vaults from the 15th century, while the choir has a Romanesque tunnel vault. The tunnel vault is one of the few preserved examples of this early type in Skåne. In 1682, the church's deficiencies were mentioned, including the church being described as having 'a flat tower,' meaning a tower without a spire. At that time, a now-vanished porch was also mentioned.
The northern addition was erected as a burial chapel for the Thott family of Skabersjö, who held the patronage rights to the church. The year 1745 and the initials OT and CK (Otto Thott and Christine Kaas) can be seen on the exterior. In 1828, it was noted that 'a burial chapel exists in the church for the Thott family.' This burial chapel was later opened to the public as it was too damp for coffins. Instead, the Thott family established the special Thott Cemetery south of the church building.
In 1896, the church was restored under the supervision of A.W. Lundberg, during which the windows were enlarged.
On the outside of the southern nave wall, there is an older sundial and a magnificent gravestone for the church pastor Michael Petreius, who died in 1642.
On the southern side of the churchyard, there is a larger area separated by a stone wall for the graves of the Thott family. All grave markers are made of cast iron.
The altarpiece was made in 1771 by the castle architect Adolf Fredrik Barnekow, who was the brother-in-law of Count Tage Thott (governor) of Skabersjö. It replaced an altarpiece that had been erected in 1586 by the church's then-patron Holger Ulfstand of Skabersjö. The pulpit, which is still preserved, was set up the year before.
The baptismal font was donated to the church on Christmas Eve in 1922 by Countess Augusta Thott.
References:
Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.
Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.
There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.