Hönsäters kapell
Kinnekulle

**Hönsäters Chapel**

The company initially intended to build a parish hall in conjunction with the appointment of a parish deacon. This facility would have been made available at a low cost for the parishes of Österplana and Medelplana. This decision was made by the company's board in early 1910. Shortly after, however, a request was made by the workers at the cement factory in Hönsäter, highlighting the need for a nearby cemetery. This led the company to revise its earlier decision and instead build a chapel with a cemetery.

The chapel is constructed from limestone, with the lower parts of the interior walls covered in brown Hyllinge brick. The church bell is from Beckman & Co in Stockholm, and the original chamber organ is from Herrljunga Organ Factory. The current church organ was purchased in 1974 from Hammarbergs Organ Building, Gothenburg.

The chapel's plans were created by L Kjellman from Borås, and the building was constructed by master builder J Svensson from Skara. The portal and the altar table, as well as the flooring and aisles, are made from finely polished Kinnekulle limestone by Gössäters Stenhuggeri.

**Altar Retable**

The altar retable is assembled from parts and sculptures from the old altar in Österplana. The reclining genii at the top, as well as the seated figures, are likely from the mid-1600s, when General Harald Stake, known from the Thirty Years' War, had the old church in Österplana restored. The central panel is framed by beautiful column architecture. In the center field is a delicately sculpted ivory crucifix, likely a Renaissance work from the 1400s. On the short wall, two sculpted patron saints hang, one on each side of the altar. The one in nun's attire is probably the oldest.

**Baptismal Font**

The wooden baptismal font with a brass baptismal basin was also donated by General Stake. The lid of the font features six sculpted herms. On the bottom of the basin is a relief depicting the Annunciation, surrounded by a minuscule inscription. The edge of the basin has hammered minor ornaments and two engraved coats of arms, which are probably not Swedish. The entire basin is a so-called Nunberger work, likely from the 1400s. It is plausible that the basin is a war booty that General Stake brought back from Germany.

**Pulpit**

The pulpit, made of oak, dates from 1661. It is decorated with unusually rich sculpture work of a Skåne-Danish character and was donated by General Stake.

**Banners**

Three main banners and 16 wooden coat of arms with bearing poles hang on the chapel's long walls. These belonged to the Stake family and were carried in procession at General Stake's funeral in Österplana Church in 1678.

The large main banner on the southern wall of the chapel is General Harald Stake's banner. Like the main banner on the opposite wall, it is painted in heraldic colors along with all the coat of arms. The central coat of arms is surrounded by 16 coats of arms, of which the eight on the right side represent paternal ancestry and the eight on the left side represent maternal ancestry. These are listed in the same order as separate coats of arms on the walls. To the left of General Stake's main banner hangs another Stake banner belonging to the general's father, Erik Stake (to Hönsäter), who died in 1598. The main banner on the opposite side is also a Stake coat of arms. The 16 coats of arms surrounding the central field of the main banner represent the ancestors on both the paternal and maternal sides of General Stake's first wife, Countess Magdalena Sparre of Lilla Bjurum.

**Chandeliers**

Three brass chandeliers hang from the ceiling. These were donated for the chapel's inauguration in 1913 by the chairman of the board, a board member, and the manager of Hellekis Aktiebolag. The chandelier nearest to the altar is a gift from Count Gilbert Hamilton of Hjelmsäter and his wife Amalia Röhss. The middle chandelier was donated by Chamberlain Baron Carl Cederström of Fredrikslund and his wife Anna Skjöldebrand. The third chandelier, hanging over the gallery, is a gift from Manager Otto Hillerfors of Hönsäter and his wife Ida, née Nordström.