Stubbekøbing Church
Stubbekøbing Church | |
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Stubbekøbing Kirke | |
Location | Stubbekøbing, Falster |
Country | Denmark |
Denomination | Church of Denmark |
History | |
Dedication | Saint Anne |
Architecture | |
Architectural type | Romanesque architecture, Gothic architecture |
Administration | |
Diocese | Diocese of Lolland–Falster |
Deanery | Falster Provsti |
Parish | Stubbekøbing Sogn |
Stubbekøbing Church (Danish: Stubbekøbing Kirke) is located in Stubbekøbing some 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Nørre Alslev on the Danish island of Falster. The basilical nave was built of limestone in the Late Romanesque period. Choir and tower are of brick, the choir built in Early Gothic style, tower and the northern chapels in the 15th century in Late Gothic style. In addition to its Renaissance altarpiece and pulpit, it has a variety of old frescos and wall decorations (1300–1500).[1]
History
The church was originally dedicated to
Architecture
The nave was built in the Late Romanesque period but only its south wall and east gable have been preserved, the remainder having been renovated in the same style. The original chancel has been replaced with the present brick structure, probably after a fire in the 13th century. The early Gothic choir has three slightly pointed windows in the gable and also pointed windows on the sides.[1]
At the end of the 13th century, the west gable and the entire north side of the nave were torn down and the church was extended towards the west and north, although only a short stretch of wall around the northern chapel now remains. The tower and the chapels to the north were built of brick in a Late Gothic style, probably in the second half of the 15th century. The chapel to the north of the nave, dedicated to St Anne, is a good example of architecture of the times, built in brick with belts of limestone. This interesting variation of Brick Gothic is not found only in Denmark, but also in the Netherlands, Belgium and Northern Rhineland.
The chancel's north chapel to St Gertrude has belts of red and yellow brick. The upper portion of the tower has been rebuilt several times. By the end of the 19th century, the church was in such a poor state of repair that it was about to be demolished but in 1881, the architects Hermann Baagøe Storck and Vilhelm Ahlmann were invited to undertake a comprehensive restoration. They rebuilt the north side of the nave on the old foundations and the chancel arch was moved to the north. A further restoration was completed in 1995.[1]
Interior
The nave is flanked by arches supported by half columns with trapezoidal
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Pulpit (1634)
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West gable of St Anne's chapel
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Nave
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Crucifix in chancel arch (1520)
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Crucifix: Christ's face
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Altarpiece (1618)
Frescos
During the restoration work in 1881, a number of frescos were found including the frieze on the wall above the chancel arch depicting Christ flanked by eight apostles. It dates from the second half of the 13th century.[1] Two paintings of St Eligius were also discovered, depicting him in connection with two different stories,[3] twitching the Devil's nose along with a demoniac horse standing nearby.[4] The decorations on the walls and under the arches depicting red waves and plants in red, green and yellow are from c. 1300. In 1939, frescos from c. 1480 were discovered in St Anne's chapel. Those on the vaults were covered again with whitewash but those on the walls were preserved. They depict St Martin riding on a horse and St Roch with a book in his left hand. Other frescos were discovered in the church but were not restored or preserved. The coat of arms of Pope Leo X can be seen on the chancel's north wall.[2]
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Chancel arch decorations
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Fresco: St Roch
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Fresco: Majestas Domini frieze
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Fresco: Arms of Pope Leo X (1521)
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Fresco: St Martin on horseback
References
- ^ a b c d e "Stubbekøbing kirke" Archived 2011-01-31 at the Wayback Machine, Nordens kirke. (in Danish) Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ a b c Kirsten Weber-Andersen, Otto Norn, Aage Roussell, Gertrud Købke Knudsen, "Stubekøbing Kirke", Danmarks kirker: Maribo amt, Volume 8, 1951, Nationalmuseet, pages 256–290. (in Danish) Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ Metcalfe, William Musham; Erskine, Ruaraidh (1900). The Scottish Review (Public domain ed.). A. Gardner. pp. 183–. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ Reading Medieval Studies. Graduate Centre for Medieval Studies in the University of Reading. 1988. p. 111. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
External links
- Stubbekøbing Parish website (in Danish)