Ålum Church

Facts

Building on runic stones

By Maria Panum Baastrup, Mag.art. i forhistorisk arkæologi, København Universitet (17 stories)

Near Ålum Church, west of Randers, you'll find four runic stones. The stones date back to the second half of the 10th century or early 11th century. One of the stones was walled into the corner of Ålum Church porch and one forms part of the foundation of the nave. The last two stones were found outside the church – one at the foot of the hill and one in the churchyard wall. The stones walled into the church show that the once very important stones had devalued to the point where they could be used for building purposes.

Public place

Selected entry

Vigot's stone

Story written by Maria Panum Baastrup

Time / Periode 950 1050

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The runes carved into the two stones found outside the church both mention a man named Vigot. One stone says: Vigot erected this stone for his son Esge. God help his soul well". The other says: "Thyre, Vigot's wife, had this stone erected for Thorbjørn, Sibbe's son, her sister, whom she loved more than her own son". As the name Vigot is known only from the two runic stones, it is probably the same man. This theory is also supported by the fact that both runic stones were made at the same workshop. Perhaps Vigot and his wife Thyre were busy drawing attention to their right to inherit from their family. "