St. James's Church, Copenhagen
Encyclopedia
St. James's Church in the Østerbro
district of Copenhagen
, Denmark
, was the first church to be built in the district. It was designed by Ludvig Fenger
in a Neo-Gothic
style and built between 1876 and 1878.
in Nørrebro
was the first church to be built in Copenhagen outside the city's former Bastioned Fortifications
after it was decided to decommission them and allow the city to expand. Its first pastor, Rudolf Frimodt, launched a campaign for more new churches in fast-growing new neighbourhoods which, over the course of seven years, from 1874 to 1880, led to four new churches. St. James's was the second of these churches to be completed and the first church to be built in Østerbro
. Its architect was Ludvig Fenger
, who also designed St. Mathew's in Vesterbro which was completed just two years later. Construction of St. James's began in 1876 and the church was completed in 1878. The site was still relatively sparsely developped but among the buildings in the area was the Brumleby
terraces, Denmark's first example of social housing, which had been built between 1854 and 1872.
design with inspiration from English architecture. It is constructed in red brick. A relief above the main entrance depicts Saint James with a scallop shell
, his emblem.
and remains the largest church in Østerbro. It lies a little recessed from Østerbrogade
and is today located close to Parken
and Østerbro Stadiums. The church is open to visitors every day from 9—13.
Østerbro
Østerbro is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located just north of the city centre, outside the old city gate Østerport which, after it was moved around 1700, used to be located close to present-day Østerport Station...
district of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, was the first church to be built in the district. It was designed by Ludvig Fenger
Ludvig Fenger
Ludvig Peter Fenger was a Danish architect. He was a proponent of the Historicist style and from 1886 to 1904 he was City Architect in Copenhagen....
in a Neo-Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style and built between 1876 and 1878.
History
Completed in 1856, St. John's ChurchSt. John's Church, Copenhagen
St. John's Church is a church located next to Sankt Hans Torv in the heart of the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen, Denmark...
in Nørrebro
Nørrebro
Nørrebro is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is northwest of the city centre, beyond the location of the old Northern Gate , which, until dismantled in 1856, was near the current Nørreport station.-Geography:...
was the first church to be built in Copenhagen outside the city's former Bastioned Fortifications
Fortifications of Copenhagen (17th century)
The fortifications of Copenhagen underwent a comprehensive modernization and expansion in the 17th century. The project was commenced and largely masterplanned by Christian IV in the early 17th century but continued and completed by his successors...
after it was decided to decommission them and allow the city to expand. Its first pastor, Rudolf Frimodt, launched a campaign for more new churches in fast-growing new neighbourhoods which, over the course of seven years, from 1874 to 1880, led to four new churches. St. James's was the second of these churches to be completed and the first church to be built in Østerbro
Østerbro
Østerbro is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located just north of the city centre, outside the old city gate Østerport which, after it was moved around 1700, used to be located close to present-day Østerport Station...
. Its architect was Ludvig Fenger
Ludvig Fenger
Ludvig Peter Fenger was a Danish architect. He was a proponent of the Historicist style and from 1886 to 1904 he was City Architect in Copenhagen....
, who also designed St. Mathew's in Vesterbro which was completed just two years later. Construction of St. James's began in 1876 and the church was completed in 1878. The site was still relatively sparsely developped but among the buildings in the area was the Brumleby
Brumleby
Brumleby is an enclave of terraced houses in Copenhagen, Denmark, located between Østre Allé and Østerbrogade, just south of Parken Stadium and St. James' Church...
terraces, Denmark's first example of social housing, which had been built between 1854 and 1872.
Architecture
The church is built to a Neo-GothicGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
design with inspiration from English architecture. It is constructed in red brick. A relief above the main entrance depicts Saint James with a scallop shell
Scallop
A scallop is a marine bivalve mollusk of the family Pectinidae. Scallops are a cosmopolitan family, found in all of the world's oceans. Many scallops are highly prized as a food source...
, his emblem.
St. James's today
The church belongs to Church of DenmarkChurch of Denmark
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, Church of Denmark or Danish National Church, is the state church and largest denomination in Denmark and Greenland...
and remains the largest church in Østerbro. It lies a little recessed from Østerbrogade
Østerbrogade
Østerbrogade is the principal shopping street and thoroughfare in the Østerbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It extends from Lille Trianglen at the north-eastern tip of The Lakes, passes Trianglen, and continues to Svanemøllen station from where it becomes Strandvejen.-History:Østerbrogade...
and is today located close to Parken
Parken Stadium
Parken Stadium is a football stadium in the Indre Østerbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark, built from 1990–1992. It currently has a capacity of 38,065 for football games, and is the home ground of F.C. Københaven and the Danish national football team...
and Østerbro Stadiums. The church is open to visitors every day from 9—13.