Reformed Church, Copenhagen
Reformed Church | |
---|---|
Reformed Church seen from Gothersgade | |
55°41′1.57″N 12°34′30.38″E / 55.6837694°N 12.5751056°E | |
Location | 109 Gothersgade Copenhagen |
Country | Denmark |
Denomination | Reformed |
History | |
Status | Church |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Hendrik Brokhamm (attributed) |
Architectural type | Church |
Style | Dutch Baroquel |
Groundbreaking | 1688 |
Completed | 1689 |
Specifications | |
Length | 25 m |
Width | 16 m |
Materials | Brick |
Reformed Church (Danish: Reformerte Kirke) in Gothersgade, opposite Rosenborg Castle, is a church building used by the reformed congregations in in Copenhagen, Denmark. Concecrated in 1689, construction of the church was instigated by Queen Charlotte Amalie, consort of King Christian V, who was herself a German Calvinist. The church is noted for its fine Baroque interiors which date from 1730 when it was restoed after being damaged in the Copenhagen Fire of 1728.
History
Prior to her marriage to King Christian V of Denmark in 1667, Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel had requested, and had been granted for herself and her court, the right to profess freely her reformed faith.
In 1685, instigated by his queen, Christian V licenced the formation of a reformed congregation among German, Dutch and French immigrants. Mainly reguges, they were typically merchants, craftsmen, often with new trades, or had a military background. After a few years it split into a German Reformed Church and a French Reformed Church.[1]
Charlotte Amelia also personally financed the erection of the first church building on a prominent site in Gothersgade, opposite Rosenborg Castle. It is unclear who designed the church but it was presumably Hendrik Brokhamm a Dutch sculptor who had recently arrived in Denmark and later worked with Lambert van Haven, for instance on Church of Our Saviour at Christianshavn where he executed the main portal.
Charlotte Amalie placed the foundation stone, which is still seen next to the main entrance, and the building was completed in 1689.[2] The German and French reformed churches shared the new church.
The church was badly damaged in the Copenhagen Fire of 1728 but was subsequently rebuilt with new furnishings attributed the sculptor Friederich Ehbisch (c. 1672-1748).
Architecture
The church is built in red brick and designed in the Dutch Baroque style. It has a rectangular floor plan with a slightly progressing central risalit and the facade toward Gothersgade is decorated with Ionic pilasters and a triangular pediment.[2]
The roof is topped by a Flèche with two lanterns which rises 13.5 metres above the roof.[3] It was added in 1731 in connection with the rebuilding after the fire.[4]
Interior
The church room is oriented along the short axis of the building and is dominated by beautifully carved wooden features. Typical of reformed but unusual for Danish churches, it has a centrally placed pulpit set dramatically high above the altar table.
The organ front was originally from Copenhagen Castle and dates from 1724. It was transferred to the church in 1730 when the castle was demplished to make room for the ]]Christiansborg Palace (1st)|first Christiansborg Palace]]. The current organ was made by the organ manufacturer Köhne and is from 1878.
The church's closed boxes were reserced for noble families and later the wealthy merchants of the congregation.
Churchyeard
The churchyard next to the church has been decommissioned. The original German section to the left of the entrance have no graves left but the French section to the right still have 18 graves and the shared churchyard on the rear side of the building also feature has a number of gravestones. The internents include:
- Jacques d'Agar, Danish Court Painter immigrated from France
- C. de Cormaillon, commander of Kastellet
- Olfert Fischer, Danish Vice Admiral, the son of Dutch immigrants, he was one of the Danish commanders in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.[3]
Reformed Church today
The church is stil used by the German and French Reformed Churches in Copenhagen and since 1990 also by a Korean congregation. Along with a fourth congregation in Fredericia, Jutland, they form the Reformed Synod of Denmark which is a member of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
See also
References
- ^ "Reformerte kirker". Gyldendal. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
- ^ a b "Reformerte Kirke". Reformert Kirke. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
- ^ a b "Reformert Kirke". dankinkbh.dk. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
- ^ "Københavns kupler, tårne og spir". Danish Post & Telegraph Museum. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
External links
- Official website of the French Reformed Church (in Dansh)