RÄTTSFALL OCH ANTIKVARISK PRAXIS VID HANTERING AV DET KYRKLIGA KULTURARVET En redogörelse om tillämpningen av Kulturmiljölagens fjärde kapitel

Sammanfattning: This thesis aims to explain the contentions and outcomes of legal cases that aspire to changes within a church. Moreover, how these can affect the heritage management of churches. To achieve this, the work is based on a study of several legal cases, literature, and interviews. These legal cases are linked to the fourth chapter of Kulturmiljölagen (SFS 1988:950). A Swedish law which purpose is to protect the built heritage. The study shows how legal cases are based upon a principle that weighs public and private interests. The public interest aims to protect the heritage values of the church, whilst the private aspire to make changes that meets contemporary needs. The interest that carries the most weight is favoured. The outcome of the legal cases helps interpret how the law is supposed to be used. Through interviewing heritage officers, the study found that the effect these cases had on the management of the ecclesiastical heritage varied. Cases that had gone to the highest court had a higher effect than ones that did not. Some cases show a more liberal interpretation on the law, which allows for bigger changes within the church.