Kungl. Slottet, SE-107 70 Stockholm, www.kungahuset.se, Jonas Rosin, Palace Educator / Supervisor of Riddarholmen Church, jonas.rosin@kungahuset.se.
CH-780
Bilthoven, 1 maart 2023
Dear Madam/Sir,
On 2 May 1800 there was a Seraphim funeral service for FieldMarshall Count Johan August Mejerfelt. All formal steps of the procession were followed and I have the original print of the “Tal”. On the cover I read “då Dess Vapen vid Jordfästningen i Kongl. Riddareholms-Kyrkan krossades”, but the speech only states that it will not be used any more, not that will be destructed. Where can I find what ceremony precisely took place, including the question whether the coffin and body of Mejerfelt were in the Riddarholmskyrkan (instead of the S:ta Clara Kyrka)?
Thank you in advance,
Hugo von Meijenfeldt
Stockholm, 1 maart 2023
Dear Mr von Meijenfeldt,
We have no notices of Johan August Meijerfelt actually being buried in Riddarholmen Church, so my guess would be that the funeral service was held there, since he was a knight of the Seraphim, and he was then buried in S:t Clara.
As for his coat of arms being destroyed, that would be his funeral arms. It would be carried in the funeral procession, and being the last of his family it would be ritually broken over his coffin once the ceremony started. A special breakable funeral arms would be made for this occasion. These have not often been preserved afterwards, but we have one in the church (not for Count Meijerfelt, though). His coat of arms as a Knight of the Seraphim is still preserved, hanging on the right hand side in the chancel.
I hope that this at least partially answered your questions.
Kind Regards
Jonas Rosin
Bilthoven, 1 maart 2023
Dear Jonas Rosin,
Thank you very much for you quick and informative response.
I think I can draw my final conclusions now about what happened where and when. By the way, the body of Johan August Meijerfeldt was finally shipped to Stralsund and according to the church books buried on 15 July 1800 in the Family Grave in the St. Andreas Church in Nehringen, Schwedisch-Pommern.
Best regards,
Hugo