Abbey of Our Lady, Aalborg
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The Abbey of Our Lady, Aalborg ( da, Vor Frue Kloster) was an early
Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...
monastery in
Aalborg Aalborg (, , ) is Denmark's fourth largest town (behind Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense) with a population of 119,862 (1 July 2022) in the town proper and an urban population of 143,598 (1 July 2022). As of 1 July 2022, the Municipality of Aalb ...
, Denmark. The former monastic church survived a
parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...
until 1876 when it was demolished. The present Vor Frue Kirke was built on the site between 1877 and 1878.


History


Vor Frue Kloster

Aalborg was the area's largest town and the abbey was built on property donated by the diocese. Nor is it clear whether the early nuns were in fact Benedictines. In 1140
Sigurd Slembe Sigurd Magnusson Slembe (or Slembedjakn) (died 12 November 1139) was a Norwegian pretender to the throne. He was the subject of ''Sigurd Slembe'', the historical drama written by the Norwegian playwright Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson in 1862. Biograph ...
, pretender to the Norwegian throne, was buried inside the abbey church, as recorded by the priest Kjeld Kalv, known while serving at the church for his piety. The abbey over time developed into a complex consisting of a large church and three ranges forming a rectangular enclosure to separate the nuns from the world. The church was also used daily by the residents of Aalborg, though the nuns were separated from the congregation by iron gates around the choir. The tower of the church was one of the three church towers which can still be seen on Aalborg's city logo. The church and abbey buildings underwent a significant expansion in the late 15th century and were reconstructed in late
Brick Gothic Brick Gothic (german: Backsteingotik, pl, Gotyk ceglany, nl, Baksteengotiek) is a specific style of Gothic architecture common in Northeast and Central Europe especially in the regions in and around the Baltic Sea, which do not have resourc ...
style. In the mid-1520s,
Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...
ideas swept through northern Jutland and Viborg and Aalborg became centres of Lutheran reaction against
Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
institutions, customs and doctrines. The
Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related Mendicant orders, mendicant Christianity, Christian Catholic religious order, religious orders within the Catholic Church. Founded in 1209 by Italian Catholic friar Francis of Assisi, these orders include t ...
s were expelled from Aalborg, and support for the nuns vanished. In 1534 Aalborg was the site of a siege and massacre at the end of
Skipper Clement Klemen Andersen "Skipper Clement" ( – 9 September 1536) was a Danish merchant, captain, privateer and leader of the peasant rebellion that was part of the civil war known as the Count's Feud (''Grevens Fejde''). Background Clement was born to ...
's rebellion. King
Christian III Christian III (12 August 1503 – 1 January 1559) reigned as King of Denmark from 1534 and King of Norway from 1537 until his death in 1559. During his reign, Christian formed close ties between the church and the crown. He established ...
's army laid siege to the city and when the walls were stormed, the city was sacked. The city's churches and monasteries, including Vor Frue Kirke, were stripped of anything valuable by the mercenaries who ravaged the city. Two years later Denmark became officially
Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...
and all religious houses and their income properties reverted to the crown. King Christian gave the abbey to the city with the stipulation that the nuns be permitted to remain under the supervision of a local noble.


Vor Frue Kirke

Vor Frue Kirke became one of the city's parish churches. The last nun left the former abbey in 1560 and the town converted one of the ranges into a residence for the new Lutheran pastor. The other ranges were demolished. Several epitaphs were added to the walls of the nave. Burial chapels were added by noble families beneath the church, of which the Scheel family chapel is still extant beneath the present building. A new pulpit, which is still preserved in the present church, was donated before 1579, In 1876 Vor Frue Kirke had become so dilapidated that it was decided to demolish it and build a new church in its place. It was built of the red brick in neo-romanticism between 1877 and 1878 following drawings by architect
Johannes Emil Gnudtzmann Johannes Emil Gnudtzmann (17 November 1837 – 14 April 1922) was a Danish architect working in the Historicist style. His most notable works are St. Paul's Church and the extension of the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University's main ...
(1837–1922) and inaugurated on December 22, 1878. The altarpiece was designed by Gnudtzmann with the altar designed by architect
Hermann Baagøe Storck Hermann Baagøe Storck (18 February 1839 – 4 December 1922) was a Danish architect and heraldist. As an architect, he is mainly known for the restoration of historic buildings. Among his own designs, his building for the Hirschsprung Collect ...
(1839–1922) and paintings by artist Johan Georg Frans Schwartz (1850–1917). Two of the bells in Vor Frue Kirke have been preserved from the earlier building. One of them was cast in the 12th century and is the oldest bell still in use in Denmark. The other from 1518 was recast in 1861 when it cracked, and again in 1919 when it cracked a second time.


Burials

*
Jørgen Lunge Jørgen Lunge (11 October 1577 – 19 August 1619) was a Denmark, Danish nobleman who served as Rigsmarsk (Denmark), Rigsmarsk from 1616 to 1619. Biography Lunge was born in on 11 October 1577 to Ove Lunge and Anne Maltesdatter Sehested. ...


References


External links


Vor Frue Kirke website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbey Of Our Lady, Aalborg Christian monasteries established in the 12th century Benedictine nunneries in Denmark History of Aalborg Tourist attractions in Aalborg Buildings and structures in Aalborg Churches in the North Jutland Region Monasteries dissolved under the Danish Reformation Churches in the diocese of Aalborg