Church of Our Lady (Aarhus)

Church of Our Lady

56°09′29″N 10°12′18″E / 56.158°N 10.205°E / 56.158; 10.205Coordinates: 56°09′29″N 10°12′18″E / 56.158°N 10.205°E / 56.158; 10.205
Location	Vestergade 21 8000 Aarhus
Country	Denmark
Denomination	Church of Denmark
Architecture
Status	Church
Completed	1060
Specifications
Materials	Brick
Administration
Archdiocese	Diocese of Aarhus

For Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, see Church of Our Lady (Copenhagen).

The Church of Our Lady (Danish: Vor Frue Kirke) is one of the largest churches of Århus, Denmark. It is situated in the centre of the city not far from Aarhus Cathedral (Århus Domkirke). The church's crypt contains a stone church dating to 1060 AD.

History

The church was originally known as St. Nicholas' Church but was expanded by the construction of a Dominican priory in 1240, the Vor Frue Kloster (Our Lady's Priory), of which the present church formed the southern wing. After the Reformation in Denmark, the name was changed to the Church of Our Lady and King Christian III decreed that the surrounding buildings, formerly a priory of the Dominicans, should function as a hospital for the sick and poor. The church was subsequently granted congregational privileges which officially made it a centre for clerical activities in its area.

Between 1250 and 1500 the church was heavily expanded by the addition of, among other things, the large tower. In the 1950s a crypt-church was rediscovered beneath the church during renovations. The crypt church dates to approximately 1060 AD. The church has since been renovated again in 2000.

Crypt church

The crypt church beneath the Church of Our Lady

The crypt church is the oldest extant stone church in Scandinavia. Built in 1060 after the old wooden church had been burned in an assault on the town, the church is situated beneath the main building of the Church of Our Lady. After its discovery in the 1950s, it was restored and reopened on 10 November 1957 and is now used for mass once a week.

During the restoration by the Danish National Museum, two graves were found - one of a child and one of an adult - and 23 coins from the 14th century. Five of these coins were from Lübeck and the rest from Hamburg.

The crypt church was initially built as an attempt to weaken Adalbert, archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen, who had considerable influence on Danish clerical matters, as the head of the Danish church. Svend Estridsen (1047–1074) divided Denmark into 8 bishoprics, and in 1060, Christian became the first bishop of Aarhus. The crypt church was built the same year.

Around 1080, a new and larger church was built here, named after Saint Nicholas, just like numerous other Danish churches of the time. In 1180, it was mentioned as Aarhus' first cathedral, but was demolished when the Dominicans came to town.

There is no historic information about the crypt church from the following centuries. At some point the rooms were walled off and used as a storage room, until the church itself was forgotten.

Priory

Main article: Our Lady's Priory, Aarhus

The exact year for the erection of the Dominican priory is not known. Different sources point both to the years 1227 and 1239; it is generally assumed that the priory was fully established by approximately 1240.

The priory was separated from the Church of Our Lady during the Reformation, when King Christian III (1534–1559) decided that the church should function as a parish church, while the other priory buildings should be used as a hospital and poor house. In 1888 part of the former priory was converted into a chapel for the residents of the building, then as now principally the elderly.

Sources

Zwergius, Ole, nd: Århus Vor Frue Kloster 1239-1541. ISBN 87-983814-0-7

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church of Our Lady (Aarhus).

Church of Our Lady (Danish)

City of Aarhus

The Midtown boroughs: Indre By, Docklands, Frederiksbjerg, Langenæs, Marselisborg, Nørre Stenbro, Trøjborg, Vesterbro History Timeline Architecture (Listed buildings, Churches) Neighborhoods People (Bishops, Mayors) Education Parks Public art

Suburbs	Aaby Aabyhøj Bispehaven Brabrand Christiansbjerg Egå Gellerup Hasle Hasselager Højbjerg Holme Kolt Risskov Rosenhøj Skåde Skæring Skejby Skødstrup Slet Stavtrup Tilst Tranbjerg Vejlby Viby

Parks and recreation	Ballehage Beach Botanical Gardens City Hall Park Concert Hall Park Forestry Botanical Garden Den Permanente Hasle Hills Marselisborg Deer Park Marselisborg Forests Marselisborg Hospitals Park Marienlyst Park Mindeparken Mølleparken Nordre Cemetery Riis Forest Skanseparken Skjoldhøjkilen Skæring Hede St. Olufs Cemetery Tangkrogen Vennelystparken Vestereng Vestre Cemetery University Park Åkrogen Åparken

Culture	Aarhus Festuge Aarhus Girl's Choir Aarhus International Jazz Festival Aarhus Pride Aarhus Symphony Orchestra Danish National Opera Danmarks Grimmeste Festival Grøn Koncert Moesgård Viking Moot Northside Festival SPoT Festival

Museums	ARoS Aarhus Art Museum The Old Town Moesgård Museum Natural History Museum Women's Museum Viking Museum Occupation Museum Museum of Ancient Art Museum Ovartaci Danish Poster Museum

Churches	Aarhus Cathedral Aarhus Methodist Church Åby Church Åbyhøj Church Brabrand Church Catholic Church of Our Lady Christian's Church Church of Our Lady Egå Church Ellevang Church Fredens Church Frederik's Church Hasle Church Holme Church Langenæs Church Lyseng Church Møllevang Church Ravnsbjerg Church Risskov Church St. John's Church St. Luke's Church St. Mark's Church St. Nicholas' Church St. Paul's Church Tilst Church Tranbjerg Church Skejby Church Vejlby Church Viby Church

Landmarks	Aarhus City Hall Aarhus Custom House Godsbanen Aarhus Theatre Aarhus University Hospital Hotel Royal Kunsthal Aarhus Latin Quarter Marselisborg Palace Musikhuset Old City Hall Tivoli Friheden

Education	Aarhus University Aarhus School of Architecture Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering Business Academy Aarhus School of Media and Journalism Central Library Deaconal Folk High School Jutland Art Academy' KaosPilot Ole Rømer Observatory Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus/Aalborg State and University Library VIA University College

Sports	Aarhus 1900 Aarhus Fremad AGF Aarhus Sejlklub Atletion Bakken Bears Brabrand IF DGI-Huset IK Skovbakken Jutland Racecourse Vejlby-Risskov Idrætscenter National Equestrian Centre

Transport	Aarhus Airport Aarhus Central Station Aarhus Letbane Aarhus Commuter Rail R45 Port of Aarhus Mols-Linien Århus Sporveje Ring 1 Ring 2 Aarhus City Bikes Rejsekort Danish National Cycle Route 4 Danish National Cycle Route 5 Marselisborg Yacht Harbour

History	Timeline Coat of arms Aarhus Air Raid Ancient See of Aarhus Danish National Exhibition of 1909 L-groups Niels of Aarhus Our Lady's Priory Samsing Group Rytterfægtningen 1944 explosion in Aarhus 5 Kolonne

Category

Churches in Aarhus

Middle ages	Aarhus Cathedral Brabrand Church Church of Our Lady Egå Church Hasle Church Skejby Church Tilst Church Tranbjerg Church Vejlby Church Viby Church

Modern era	Aarhus Methodist Church Catholic Church of Our Lady Christian's Church Ellevang Church Fredens Church Frederik's Church Holme Church Langenæs Church Lyseng Church Møllevang Church Ravnsbjerg Church Risskov Church St. John's Church St. Luke's Church St. Mark's Church St. Nicholas' Church St. Paul's Church Åby Church Åbyhøj Church

List Category

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