The Church of Our Saviour - Vor Frelsers Kirke

The Church of Our Saviour called – Vor Frelsers Kirke - has one of the many towers rising above Copenhagen’s skyline and is famous among tourists and visitors for its magnificent view over the city. The remarkable tower and spiral-shaped gold spire construction is 90 meter high with 400 steps to the top.

The Church of Our Saviour in 1749 was the parish church for citizens of the new town quarters called Christianshavn and has bee it since for over 300 years. The golden spire was completed in 1752, with a golden globe and Christ on the top looking over the city.

The nave of The Church of Our Saviour in 1859 with the original 22 meter central vault and well decorated stucco ceilings from 1696, highlighted with the Danish national coat of arms and the symbol of the prominent Order of the Elephant. Exactly, as it looks today.

King Christian V and The Elephant Order
The foundation stone was laid in 1682 by King Christian V (1646-1699 – ruled Denmark and Norway 1670-1699) and nearly 14 years after in 1696, the King inaugurated the first Danish church in Dutch baroque style, with the King’s picture, initials and symbols engraved at the entrance and on the ornamental church interior. King Christian V was also the founder of the most prestigious order in Denmark in 1693 – The Order of the Elephant - which has influenced the decoration of the Church of Our Saviour.

Portrait from 1680 of King Christian V, who inaugurated The Church of Our Saviour in 1696, which was the first Danish church built in Dutch baroque style. The King was also the founder in 1693 of the most prestigious order in Denmark – The Order of the Elephant.

Painting of N.S.F Grundtvig from 1843, who was a priest at The Church of Our Saviour for four years from 1822 to 1826 and a person of great magnitude and influence in newer Danish history. He left the church in protest, due to life given censorship.

N.F.S. Grundtvig and The Church of Our Saviour
The Danish Priest N.F.S. Grundtvig is a person of great magnitude and influence in newer Danish history and was a pastor at The Church of Our Saviour for four years 1822-1826.
Grundtvig lived from 1783 to 1872 and was besides being a teacher, author, poet, philosopher, historian, pastor, hymn writer and even politician, he also reformed Christianity within the Danish Lutheran Church and developed The Folk High School movement. Last but not least, Grundtvig put a clear fingerprint on developing Denmark into a free and democratic country and was a warm supporter of women's rights. During his time at Our Saviour Church he was given life censorship, on behalf of his many written theological works, and as a protest he resigned from all of his duties in 1826. (This Portal will later portrait N.S.F. Grundtvig in a more comprehensive and deserving manner)

Our Saviour church in 1855 with the Little Mill in the back. Grundtvig preached here 30 years earlier and had quite a loyal audience at that time. Many Grundtvigians came from near and far to attend his services.

Workers in 1896 on the top of the tower installing the gilded flag-bearing 3 meter high Christ figure, looking over the city. The harbour area of Copenhagen towards the Sound at the back.

The Tower and Spire
The construction of the spire was first completed in 1752 and consecrated by King Christian V’s great grand son King Frederik V (1723-1766 – ruled Denmark and Norway 1746-1766), who took the walk to the top during the ceremony, while the military canons saluted this opening event. Since the inauguration of the golden spire in 1752, it has been a very popular attraction and historic site and yearly more than 60,000 visitor’s clime the 400 steps – with 150 steps in open air – to enjoy the amazing panorama scene over the city.

15 new bells were installed into the Carillon system in 1953 at The Church of Our Saviour, which makes it the largest and most active concert carillon in North Europe.

More than 60,000 people yearly visit The Church of Our Saviour and clime the 400 steps up to the tower top to enjoy the amazing panorama scene over the city.

The Tower Bells – Carillon
The tower of the church is equipped with a concert carillon from 1928 that was rebuilt in 1980 and consists of 48 bronze carillon bells that have a musical range of four octaves, which makes it the largest carillon system in North Europe. The largest bells weigh over 2,000 kilo and the smallest 10 kilos. Totally the Carillon instrument weighs almost 12 tonnes and chimes every hour over Christianshavn with different hymn compositions.

The Historic Organ
The huge pretentious organ with King Christian V’s monogram was built by Botzen Brothers 1698-1700 and is mounted on the wall and supported by two elephants. The organ has more than 4000 pipes with the original cymbelstern tinkling in the background during a special part of a music piece, and the entire instrument produces the sound that war heard in the church for over 300 years ago. The church arranges 15-20 concerts every year together with musical church services on Sundays. The last rebuilding of the organ was in 1965, reusing older pipe work and this instrument is equipped with 57 stops spread over 4 manuals and pedals. The facade of the organ is beautifully decorated by sculptor Christian Nerger in carved wood with a bust of King Christian V in the centre.

The church arranges 15-20 concerts every year together with musical church services on Sundays.

Many dramatic figures and symbols of archangels made of pure marble decorates the baroque alter from 1695. The alter piece was consecrated and taken into use in 1732.

The organ from 1700 was rebuilt in 1965 re-using older pipe work - but the carved facade created by Christian Nerger is from 1698, with a bust of King Christian V in the centre.

The Church Interior from 1696
When one steps into the church building the visitor will be surrounded with historic pieces of artefacts that are over 300 years old. The church benches are dated back to 1696 and have seated many prominent people as well as local citizens. The beautiful baroque marble altar is from 1695 with many dramatic symbols and figures of archangels made of marble too, while the rest of the altar decoration is shaped in wooden material. The altar was consecrated and taken into use in 1732. On the altarpiece, many types of candlesticks are used during services – the oldest pair from 1670. The font is also formed in marble with Biblical decorations and was handed over to the church in 1702. The separate font-section is placed on the left side of the church. Finally the pulpit dates back to 1773 and is designed in neo-classical style portraying the twelve apostles and the four grand prophets.

Location
The Church is located on the Isle of Amager and is the parish church for the population of the Christianshavn district, both those who belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark and others who live in the community. The entire church has room for almost 1,200 churchgoers.

The Church of Our Saviour Address Vor Frelsers Kirke Sankt Annægade 29 1416 Copenhagen K Busses: 40 - 77 - 78 - 2A - 350S - 871 Metro – Amagerbro Station

The Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelser Kirke)