Knutby is a locality in Uppsala Municipality in the historical province of Uppland. It was once the center of the local parish and has today around 690 inhabitants. It became known nationwide for a tragic event in the nearby settlement of Gränsta in 2004. A murder attempt that was orchestrated by the pastor of the local Pentecostal church received a lot of attention in national media.
A Short History of Knutby
Knutby has developed around the former parish church and it has taken its name from the parish. The parish had its origins in the Middle Ages and was the local government here until the Swedish Municipal Reform of 1862. This was when its responsibilities were split between the civic government of Knutby Municipality and the church congregation. In 1971, the municipality was incorporated into Uppsala Municipality while the church congregation has since 2010 been a part of the Knutby-Bladåker Congregation.
The locality became famous nationally in Sweden in 2004 for the events known as the Knutby Murder. A 30-year-old person was in the morning shot twice and was found seriously wounded. It was soon discovered that also his employee and neighbor, the wife of the pastor of the local Pentecostal church, had been murdered. The clues led to the nanny and the lover of the pastor. They were both found guilty of both attempted murder and murder. The pastor was sentenced to life in prison for instigating the murder attempt and the murder. The trial had also included the murder of the pastor’s first wife who was found dead in 1999, but no one was convicted for that killing.
Things to Do and See
The small locality has a few services available as well as a grocery store. The church is the most prominent building around and is at least according to a few considered to be the cathedral of Roslagen.
Knutby Church
The parish church is a medieval stone church dating back to the 13th century. It has seen several alterations over the centuries but has been restored to its 18th-century appearance. Its clock tower is a short distance away. The church is since 2010 a part of the Knutby-Bladåker Congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
Knutby Folketspark
Knutby Folketspark is the local cultural center, in English its name is The People’s Park. The park first opened in 1929 and has since for most years been a place for events.
How to Get to Knutby
- Flights: Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) is 43 kilometers to the southwest.
- Car: Knutby is on Road 282 to the east of Uppsala.
- Bus: Buses from UL connect Knutby with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 86 kilometers (1 h 7 min)
- Gothenburg – 497 kilometers (6 h 8 min)
- Malmö – 693 kilometers (7 h 53 min)
- Linköping – 282 kilometers (3 h 11 min)
- Kiruna – 1206 kilometers (14 h 1 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
