St. Peter's Church, Næstved

St. Peter's Church, Næstved

St. Peter's Church in Næstved on the Danish island of Sealand is first mentioned in a monasterial letter from 1135. Built of red brick, it is one of Denmark's largest and finest Gothic buildings, scarcely altered since 1375. The chancel, with its five tall windows, is particularly impressive.[1] It is Næstved's largest church, measuring 55 m in length.[2]

History

Today's Gothic church replaces an older Romanesque cross-shaped building built of limestone and brick from the second half of the 12th century. This in turn was built on the site of an even older stone church with two western towers.

Furnishings

Valdemar wall painting, St. Peters, Næstved

The church's most famous wall painting or kalkmaleri is on the north wall of the chancel. It depicts Valdemar IV and Queen Helvig. There are other wall paintings in the church which have not been uncovered since they were coated with limewash after the Reformation.

The most imposing feature of the church is the pulpit, designed by Lorentz Jørgensen of Holbæk in 1671. Two rows of choir stalls and a bronze font date back to about 1500.

The altarpiece is headed by a late-Gothic arched crucifix from 1844.

The church organ is from 1960, built by Marcussen & Son, Aabenraa. The tower clock (1736) is the work of J.D. Galle of Næstved.

The church also contains a number of gravestones and epitaphs dedicated to the families of Næstved.

See also

Old Town Hall (Næstved)

References

  1. ↑ Næstved Sct Peters Kirke. In Danish. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  2. ↑ Sct. Peders Kirke, Historisk byvandring i Næstved. From Næstveds Museum. In Danish. Retrieved 23 November 2009.

Coordinates: 55°14′0″N 11°46′0″E / 55.23333°N 11.76667°E / 55.23333; 11.76667

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