St. Luke's Church, Copenhagen
Encyclopedia
St. Luke's Church is a Church of Denmark
church located in the Frederiksberg
district of Copenhagen
, Denmark
. Completed in 1897 to the design of Valdemar Koch
, who also built several other churches in Copenhagen around that time, it is the second oldest church in Frederiksberg.
to relieve the pressure on Frederiksberg Church
and the young Harald Ostenfeld, later Bishop of Zealand
, was instituted as its first pastor.
At the same time it was decided to divide Frederiksberg into four parishes with St. Luke’s Church as the first of the three new churches to be built. The architect Valdemar Koch
was charged with the commission. He had already designed two churches in Copenhagen, Kapernaum Church in Nørrebro
and Zion's Church in Østerbro
.
Ground was broken on 26 April 1896 and the new church was consecrated on 29 May 1897
with Ostenfeld as pastor. The construction costs amounted to DKK
75–80,000.
The church was expanded with a porch in 1964 which was replaced in 1995 by one designed by the firm Per Gents.
style. It stands on a granite plinth, and is built in red brick with ornamental bands. The reliefs and sculptures by Thomas Bærentzen are in light-coloured stone. There is a flèche
at the west end of the building.
ed interior opens into an arcade leading to the sacristy
at the eastern end.
The rich interior decorations are partly made to Koch's own design and include "paradise flowers" which can be found in all of Koch’s churches in Copenhagen.
Other decorations include a repetition of Joakim Skovgaard’s annunciation scene from Church of the Holy Ghost
around the entrance doors, as well as a relief by Thomas Bærentzen entitled The Suffering Mankind. On the walls above the windows there are fluttering angels and citations from the Gospel of Luke
painted by Carl Budtz Møller in 1910.
On the walls over the windows there are fluttering angels and citations from St Luke's gospel, painted by Carl Budtz Møller in 1910.
Church 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...
church located in the Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It surrounded by the city of Copenhagen. The municipality, co-extensive with its seat, covers an area of and has a total population of 98,782 making it the smallest municipality in Denmark area-wise, the fifth most...
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...
. Completed in 1897 to the design of Valdemar Koch
Valdemar Koch
Otto Valdemar Koch was a Danish architect and local politician. He designed a number of churches in Copenhagen.-Biography:...
, who also built several other churches in Copenhagen around that time, it is the second oldest church in Frederiksberg.
History
By the late 19th century, the population of Frederiksberg parish had grown to about 60,000 inhabitants. In 1892, a temporary church was therefore consecrated in the former gym hall of a local folk high schoolFolk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
to relieve the pressure on Frederiksberg Church
Frederiksberg Church
Frederiksberg Church is the oldest church building in the Frederiksberg district of Copenhagen, Denmark. Completed in 1734, it is built to an unusual octagonal design in Baroque style...
and the young Harald Ostenfeld, later Bishop of Zealand
Diocese of Zealand
The Diocese of Zealand was a protestant diocese in Denmark which existed from 1537 to 1922. Apart from the island of Zealand, from which it took its name, the diocese covered Møn, Amager and various smaller islands. The island of Bornholm was included in 1560. The Faroe Islands as well as some...
, was instituted as its first pastor.
At the same time it was decided to divide Frederiksberg into four parishes with St. Luke’s Church as the first of the three new churches to be built. The architect Valdemar Koch
Valdemar Koch
Otto Valdemar Koch was a Danish architect and local politician. He designed a number of churches in Copenhagen.-Biography:...
was charged with the commission. He had already designed two churches in Copenhagen, Kapernaum Church 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:...
and Zion's Church 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...
.
Ground was broken on 26 April 1896 and the new church was consecrated on 29 May 1897
1897 in Denmark
-Incumbents:* Monarch – HM Christian IX* Prime minister – Tage Reedtz-Thott , Hugo Egmont Hørring-Events:* May 29 – St...
with Ostenfeld as pastor. The construction costs amounted to DKK
Danish krone
The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...
75–80,000.
The church was expanded with a porch in 1964 which was replaced in 1995 by one designed by the firm Per Gents.
Architecture
St. Luke's is built in Neo-RomanesqueRomanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
style. It stands on a granite plinth, and is built in red brick with ornamental bands. The reliefs and sculptures by Thomas Bærentzen are in light-coloured stone. There is a flèche
Flèche
A flèche is used in French architecture to refer to a spire and in English to refer to a lead-covered timber spire, or spirelet. These are placed on the ridges of church or cathedral roofs and are usually relatively small...
at the west end of the building.
Interior
The barrel vaultBarrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
ed interior opens into an arcade leading to the sacristy
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
at the eastern end.
The rich interior decorations are partly made to Koch's own design and include "paradise flowers" which can be found in all of Koch’s churches in Copenhagen.
Other decorations include a repetition of Joakim Skovgaard’s annunciation scene from Church of the Holy Ghost
Church of the Holy Ghost, Copenhagen
The Church of the Holy Ghost in Copenhagen, Denmark, is one of the city's oldest churches.-Background:The first abbey in Copenhagen was a Franciscan monastery founded in 1238, just 12 years after the death of Francis of Assisi. Prior to that, Archbishop Eskil had founded two Cistercian...
around the entrance doors, as well as a relief by Thomas Bærentzen entitled The Suffering Mankind. On the walls above the windows there are fluttering angels and citations from the Gospel of Luke
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
painted by Carl Budtz Møller in 1910.
On the walls over the windows there are fluttering angels and citations from St Luke's gospel, painted by Carl Budtz Møller in 1910.
Furnishings
- The altarpieceAltarpieceAn altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
is painted by Frans Schwartz and entitled Christ who reveals himself to his disciples. - The altar table is a reconstruction from 1984 based on old oil paintings and photographs.
- The crucifix to the right of the altarpiece is executed in bog oak by Johannes Kragh and is a donation from 1929.
- The baptismal fontBaptismal fontA baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is carved in granite from drawings by Valdemar Koch.