Birkerød Church (

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

: ''Birkerød Kirke'') is a church at

Birkerød Birkerød () is a town in Rudersdal Municipality in the northern outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is surrounded by several lakes and small woodlands. Birkerød station is located on the Hillerød radial of the S-train suburban network. Hist ...

, Rudersdal Municipality, Greater Copenhagen,

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

. It is one of two churches in the parish of Birkerød, the other being

Høsterkøb Church Høsterkøb Church ( da, Høsterkøb Kirke) is a parish church in the village of Høsterkøb, Rudersdal Municipality, some 20 km north of central Copenhagen, Denmark. History The church was designed by Ulrik Plesner. Construction began in 1907 an ...

in Høsterkøb which dates to 1908. Birkerød Church is particularly noted for its Gothic frescoes (''kalkmalerier'').

History

The church dates from the 12th century but has later undergone numerous changes. The nave and chancel of Birkerød Church were built in stone in the middle of the 12th century. A north chapel built in mixed field stone and brick was added in the beginning of the 13th century. The remains of it can still be seen in the wall between the sacristy and north chapel. The nave was at this point also lengthened westwards to its current length. Construction of the tower began in circa 1475. A new chancel also replaced the old one at this point. The porch was built around 1525 and the current north chapel was built in 1563. The windows has been moved and altered several times but remains of the original 12th-century windows can still be seen.

Henrik Gerner Henrik Gerner (1742–1787) was a Danish naval officer who specialised in shipbuilding and naval architecture. His interests as an entrepreneurial engineer led to unsinkable gun platforms, horse-driven dredging machines, and desalination equipmen ...

was appointed as parish priest for Birkerød in 1656. In 1731, Gerhard Hermansen Treschow was appointed as parish priest by queen Sophie Magdalene. In 1876 he left the office when he was appointed as pastor of Trinitatis Church in Copenhagen.

Furnishings

The

altarpiece An altarpiece is an artwork such as a painting, sculpture or relief representing a religious subject made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. Though most commonly used for a single work of art such as a painting o ...

dates from the late 15th century and was probably imported from North Germany. It was restored in 1899 and reinstalled in the church as a replacement for a later altarpiece painted by Gustav Theodor Wegener (1817–1877) which can now be seen in the north chapel. The pulpit is from circa 1600 and features King Christian IV's monogram. The five arched niches feature Christ and the four apostles. The font is made of sandstone and was created in 1944 by sculptor

Axel Poulsen Rikard Axel Poulsen (1 December 1887 – 22 August 1972) was a Danish sculptor. He is remembered for his memorials in Copenhagen's Fælledparken and Aarhus' Marselisborg Mindeparken. Biography Born in Copenhagen, he was brought up in Odense whe ...

(1887–1972). On the wall to the west of the pulpit is a painting of

(1629-1700) who was parish priest of Birkerød in 1657-85. In 1659, he was arrested for plotting against the Swedish occupants at Kronborg Castle. He returned to Birkerød and later became bishop of the

Diocese of Viborg The Diocese of Viborg is a diocese within the Church of Denmark, covering the western part of central Jutland. Viborg Cathedral in the city of Viborg serves as the seat of the diocese's bishop. The diocese has the highest ratio of church member ...

. The painting is a copy from 1826 of the original by Flemish painter Karl van Mander (1548–1606) in the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle. On the railing in front of the organ are six paintings from the middle of the 17th century.

Churchyard

The church is surrounded by a churchyard. It is now supplemented by Birkerød Assistens Cemetery (Søholm Cemetery). Notable burials in the churchyard include: * Johan Ulrik Bredsdorff (1845-1928), oaubter * Majsa Bredsdorff * Aage Bretting, engineer * Erik Koch Larsen, journalist * Gustav Kähler, businessman * Vilhelm la Cour, painter * Søren Peter Larsen, politician * Tage Stentoft, painter * Carl Wennemoes, painter

Cultural references

Birkerød Church has been used as a location in the feature films '' Det gælder livet'' (1953) and '' En kort, en lang'' (2001).

References

External links

Official website

{{Coord, 55.84078, 12.42980, format=dms, type:landmark_region:DK, display=title Churches in Rudersdal Municipality Churches in the Diocese of Helsingør 12th-century churches in Denmark Birkerød