Caroli Kyrka (Charles Church), Malmo

Charles Church (Caroli Kyrka) is a former church in Malmö, named after King Charles XI. Originally constructed in 1680, the first Caroli Church was known as “The German Church” due to its role as the spiritual hub for the city’s large community of German merchants and craftsmen. Up until 1778, all services were conducted in German, reflecting the demographics of the parish. This changed in 1831 when the church transitioned to conducting services in Swedish, as the local community gradually shifted away from its German roots.

By 1879, the parish had become entirely Swedish, and the original church—now too small to accommodate the growing congregation—was demolished. Financial limitations led to the church's construction budget being split with the nearby Saint Paul’s Church. Both churches were designed by the renowned Stockholm architect Emil Viktor Langlet and were completed in 1880. Caroli Church, like its counterpart, follows the “central church” design, characterized by its symmetry and the prominent use of red brick, high metal roofs, and pointed towers, which draw inspiration from Eastern Round Churches.

The new Caroli Church features a distinctive mint-green metal roof with a central tower topped by a Greek cross. The only remaining elements of the original German church are the plinth and portals. Outside the church, there are memorial plaques dedicated to Frans Suell, a successful merchant and entrepreneur, and his wife Anna.

Caroli Church ceased functioning as a parish within the Church of Sweden in 1949. Between 2000 and 2009, it was used by the Malmö Academy of Music for concerts. The building was finally desecrated in 2010 and no longer serves as a religious venue. There were discussions at one point about converting it into a residential space, but its future remains uncertain.