Birket Church
| Birket Church | ||
|---|---|---|
Birket Kirke | ||
Style Gothic architecture | | |
| Administration | ||
| Diocese | Diocese of Lolland–Falster | |
| Parish | Birket Sogn | |
Birket Church (Danish: Birket Kirke) is located south of the little village of Birket, some 14 km (8.7 mi) northeast of Nakskov on the Danish island of Lolland. Its chancel was originally the nave of the brick Gothic church built in 1350.[1] The bell tower, which stands apart from the church, is believed to be Denmark's oldest standing wooden structure.[2]
History
Built around 1350, the church is rather younger than many country churches in the area which are typically from the 12th and 13th centuries.
Architecture
The church, built of brick on a fieldstone base, consists of a chancel, a nave and a porch. The chancel with its three-sided eastern gable is all that remains of the original brick building from c. 1350. Around 1500, the original nave was replaced by the nave in the Late Gothic style which stands today. The vaulted ceilings of the nave and chancel were added at the same time. The church's exterior is now plastered over and painted yellow.[1]
Bell Tower
The wooden bell tower which stands apart from the church near the main entrance to the churchyard is the best preserved example of its kind in Denmark's country churches and one of the finest Medieval timber structures still standing in Denmark and possibly the oldest. Built on the top of an ancient burial mound, it consists of a heavy framework of oak on a fieldstone foundation.[3] The exterior covering of tarred planks has been replaced several times over the years, most recently in 1974.[2][4] It was one of the bell towers studied when the open-air museum Middelaldercentret on western Lolland build a bell tower in 2009.[5]
Interior
The church's former
Frescos
In 1900, frescos depicting a Gethsemane scene were discovered in the chancel by Jacob Kornerup who restored them in 1910.[3] Jesus is depicted before an altar bearing a chalice containing rice, corn and a whip. The three apostles are shown reading as soldiers in armor typical of the 16th century arrive. A pelican with a halo stands in the centre, reflecting a passage from Revelation.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Birket kirke" Archived 2011-09-14 at the Wayback Machine, Nordens Kirker. (in Danish) Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ^ a b c "Birket Kirke" Archived June 7, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Birket Lokalhistorisk Arkiv. (in Danish) Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d Kirsten Weber-Andersen, Otto Norn, Aage Roussell, Gertrud Købke Knudsen, "Birket Kirke", Danmarks kirker: Maribo amt, Volume 8, 1951, Nationalmuseet, pages 634-649. (in Danish) Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- ^ "Birket kirke", Historisk Atlas. (in Danish) Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ Hansen, Peter Vemming (2010-05-12). "Årsberetning 2009" (PDF). Guldborgsund Kommune. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
External links
- Parish priests at the church