The Pulpit

The pulpit is the place from which the pastor delivers the sermon. It is often located to the left of the altar from the congregation’s perspective. The pulpit is typically elevated, both to improve audibility and to emphasize the sermon as the Word of God.

The pulpit of the Old Church was inherited from the Ulrika Eleonora Church, to which it was originally donated in 1726. The pulpit was commissioned in Stockholm, and its donor was a wealthy merchant named Steen, who had moved from Helsinki to Stockholm. The pulpit was painted light grey when it was transferred to the Old Church.

The pulpit features gilded figures of Jesus and the apostles Peter and John. John, facing east, holds a chalice in his left hand. The bearded figure of Christ, facing south, holds instead a black-painted globe in His hand. Rays of light surround Christ’s head. Peter, bearded and facing west, holds his left hand against his chest. A sculpture of the Lamb of God, carrying a banner of victory, stands above the pulpit.

Hourglasses are still attached to the pulpit; they were previously used to time the length of sermons. Historically, sermons were not allowed to exceed one hour. Today, the hourglasses serve only as decoration. They are mounted in a gilded, decorative wooden frame featuring, among other elements, rocaille shell motifs and S-shaped volutes.