Frederiks
Kirke – ”The Marble Church”
In
1749 the royal house of Oldenborg
celebrated the tercentenary of ruling the Country and to mark
this occasion King Frederik V (1723-1766
– ruled Denmark and Norway 1746-1766) decided to build
a church in the new town in honour of God
and the absolute monarchy. Both the church
and town were named after him - Frederiks Kirke
and Frederiksstad. The master plan for Frederiksstad
was developed by the King’s leading court architect
Nicolai Eigtved, who also was the architect
of the Marble Church.
The
Foundation Stone Laid in 1749
The foundation stone for the mighty domed church of circular
plan was laid on 30. October 1749, and in
the late spring of 1756 works on the impressive
church project recommenced. After the foundations were laid,
progress was slow chiefly because financial resources were
limited, but the King had no desire to cut back in any way
on materials or enrichments for his prestigious plans and
insisted to build the walls in solid marble
wit blocks from eastern Norway, which was the cause for a
dramatic rise in building cost.
| A
view down Frederiksgade in 1865 towards the ruin
of the Marble Church, which was unfinished for 150
years. |
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| The
monumental ruin of the Marble Church in 1870 was
a great outing for the Copenhageners at that time. |
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The
King and architect dies
The Royal building master Nicolai Eigtved dies in June 1754
in Copenhagen, which stops the building of the Marble Church
for some time. Furthermore on 14 January 1766,
King Frederik V dies – and finally in 1770,
King Christian VII (1749-1808) – ruled
Denmark and Norway 1766-1808) decides to suspend his father’s
project “until further notice” due to lack of
financial founds and heavy budget cuts of the Frederiksstad
project.
The
Project Suspended
and C. F. Tietgen
For the next 100 years the works stopped.
The walls had reached a height of barely twenty metres and
the church was then nicknamed “The Marble Church”.
The site stood as a picturesque ruin in the middle of Copenhagen
and a popular motif for many artists. Nevertheless, the banker
and financier C. F. Tietgen took over the
ruin and building site in 1874 in order to
ensure the completion of the royal project. Tietgen also had
in mind that the spirit and thoughts of national priest and
hymn writer N. S. F. Grundtvig (1783 1872)
should symbolize the religious adoration in the new parish
church, as Grundtvig was a very central and influential person
in Danish religious life.
The Rebuilding
The rebuilding of the Marble Church started slowly in 1874
and C. F. Tietgen chose Ferdinand Meldahl as
the leading architect of the reconstruction, as he could fulfil
Tietgen’s idea of building “a Grundtvigian
Cathedral”.
| The
altarpiece from 1893-94 is made of pine and decorated
with stucco work that is shaped as a triumphal arch
in Roman Baroque style around the Cross on the altar. |
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| The
inner dome of the church is resting on 12 columns
and has a span of 31m. The cupola is split into
12 equal parts and decorated with angels and the
12 apostles placed in each section. |
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Finally completed
After the church complex was left incomplete and stood
as a ruin for nearly 150 years and after nearly
20 years of construction due to lacking founds
and other generous contributions, the Marble Church was finally
completed and inaugurated on 19. August 1894.
The present church
Today Frederiks Kirke (Frederik’s Church), with its great
dome rising high above the rooftops of Copenhagen, is one of
the characteristic landmarks of the city’s skyline. Around
the church are 14 bronze statues of prominent
Danish Church Fathers – among them priest and author N.F.S.Grundtvig
(1783 1872), philosopher and theologian Søren
A. Kierkegaard (1813-1855) and poet and novelist
B.S. Ingemann (1789-1862). On the balustrade around
the dome are sculptures in zinc of 18 historical figures from
the bible – comprising prophets and apostles as well as
the founder of Reformation Martin Luther (1483-1546).
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark
is a state church and derives its name from Martin Luther –
where 86% of the Danes are members and practise their Christian
life in almost 2,100 parishes
| Around
the Marble Church are 14 bronze statues of many
prominent Danish Church Fathers – among them
priest and author N.F.S. Grundtvig, who is standing
at the entrance of the church. |
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| The
impressive fronton (pediment) is supported by 4
Corinthian Columns and on their top is the inscription
- “The word of the Lord endured for ever”
– from the Danish Bible, 1. Peter 1:25). |
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Frederiks
Church and Frederiksstad
The position of the church is particularly linked with Frederiksstaden
(Frederik’s Town) - the new quarter founded in the mid
1700s by King Frederik V.
Frederiks
Kirke here serves as the termination of an east-west
axis from the harbour and across Amalienborg
Square. Frederik's Church is best known as “The
Marble Church”, and has the largest church
dome in northern Europe with a span of 31m
and resting on 12 columns. The basic inspiration
for the great copper-clad dome of the Marble Church is the
42.5m dome of St. Peter’s Cathedral
in Rome.
| The
Royal Guard exercising near the Marble Church –
where the church building is standing as a grandiose
monument at the end of Frederiksgade. The changing
of the Guards at Amalienborg Palace takes place
every day at noon. |
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From
the top of the Marble Church is a fantastic view
over Amalienborg Palace - Amalie Gardens - The new
Opera House - The Sound between Denmark and Sweden
and from the west side the rest of Copenhagen. Photo
John P. Palmer.
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Entrance
and location
Free
Entrance to the church and admittance to the dome of the church.
Enjoy the breath-taking view of Copenhagen
- The Ore Sound between Denmark and Sweden – Amalienborg
Palace – Amalie Gardens and the new Opera House.
Location
The
Marble Church is located near Amalienborg Palace - The Amalie
Gardens and the Yellow Palace.
| The
Marble Church
Address
Frederik Kirke - Marmorkirken
(Marble Church)
Frederiksgade 4
1265 Copenhagen K
Busses: 1A - 15 - 20E
Distance from Town Hall Square 5 km. and expect 20-30
min. by walk.
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