S:t Clemens church, Visby

S:t Clemens church ruin (S.k. 169) is in the quarter north of the northern end of S:t Hansgatan. (S.k. 169 = Sveriges Kyrkor volume 169, published by Riksantikvarieämbetet Box 5405 11484 Stockholm).

Between the different parts of the building the stones are bonded to each other and the plinth stones all over are of the same shape except for at a distance on the been designed according to a common plan and they may have been erected at the same time, possibly with a time plan so that a smaller 12th century church on the same plot partly may have been serving as parish church during the building period.

The different profile of the plinth on the central part of the southern side of the nave may be given different explanations, and among those that the plinth stones from the older church were reused.

To the south the chancel has a transept-shaped extension with south portal and above the door-way a rose window which later was exchanged to a pointed frame window. The arm of transept also has a narrow window to the north. The space of the transept can easily be seen from the nave. In the northern wall of the chancel, opposite to the transept are two arched openings which could be reached from the upper storey of the vestry. It is difficult to know exactly the aimed function of these two elements of building, but their prescence is of interest when trying to give an interpretation of the probable shape of an earlier chancel in the church of Lau. The naves of S:t Clemens and Lau are designed in nearly the same way and are nearly equal in size. The nave of Lau is slightly smaller. Both were built as parish or congregation churches, and there are speculations that the church of Lau because of its size for some reason received visitors from other parts of Gotland.

The nave of S:t Clemens had 9 vaults, supported by 4 columns. The same construction do we find in the nave of Lau which is not dated.

Three pieces of wood in the tower of S:t Clemens are dated. One of the pieces has waney edge and is dated 1258.