About Saint John’s Church (Sankt Johannes kyrka) in Stockholm, Sweden:
Saint John’s Church (Sankt Johannes kyrka) is a prominent brick Neo-Gothic church. Completed in 1890 and designed by Carl Möller, it is known for its soaring 230-foot (70-meter) tower, detailed interior, and as a key city landmark. The church features a striking orange brick facade with green copper towers and a cathedral-like, brightly colored interior with stained glass. It houses one of Sweden’s largest steel bell ensembles.
Until 2025, the church belonged to the Saint John’s parish of the Church of Sweden (Evangelical Lutheran). Due to the extensive renovation needs and the ongoing operating costs, the Saint John’s church council decided in May 2024 to investigate the possibilities of selling Saint John’s church. Before the sale, the desire was clear that the church building would continue to be used as an active Christian church.
St. John’s Church was already very familiar to Catholics in Stockholm because Catholic masses – in Polish and Ukrainian – have been celebrated there for many years. The Catholic Diocese of Stockholm has not had enough of its own premises for services and has long been rented from the Church of Sweden. The Catholic Church in Sweden is growing and new premises were needed because the influx of Catholics from all over the world are not just nominal Christians, but often practicing believers.
In May 2026 The Catholic Diocese of Stockholm was able to acquire this large and beautiful church with space for 900 people. On Friday, May 1, 2026, Saint John’s Catholic Church was inaugurated by Cardinal Arborelius.
The two-hour mass was attended by many of the diocese’s priests, deacons, religious sisters, and the apostolic nuncio to the Nordic churches, Archbishop Julio Murat. The church was filled with praying Catholics, but a number of ecumenical guests were also present.
Polish Ambassador Karolina Ostrzyniewska participated in the ceremony, as St. John’s Church has been the home of the Polish mission’s worship life in Stockholm for 50 years. After the ceremony, a greeting was read from Msgr. Georg Austen, general secretary of Bonifatiuswerk in Germany, who has contributed funds to enable the purchase and renovation of the church. Saint John’s will now continue to be the church where the Polish and Ukrainian missions celebrate masses in their languages, but it will also be a place for other Catholic worship and musical life.
Note: They can only accept bookings from members of the Catholic Church.
It is also open for visits and tours. Saint John’s Church can be rented for weddings, but due to the high demand for this, advance reservation should be made well in advance. Bookings for funerals and sacred concerts are also open to members of other faiths.
The Johannessalen hall is also included in the acquisition and will be used for church coffee (don’t we all love a good coffee hour?) and other gatherings in connection with church services.
Traveling to Saint John’s Church (Sankt Johannes kyrka) in Stockholm, Sweden:
Situated on one of Stockholm’s highest natural points near Johannes on Brunkebergsåsen in Norrmalm, central Stockholm.
Address: Johannesgatan 21, 111 38 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: (+46) 8 462 66 00