Swedish Gustaf's Church
Svenska Gustafskyrkan
The church seen from the street
55°41′32″N 12°35′24″E / 55.69222°N 12.59000°E / 55.69222; 12.59000
Location4 Folke Bernadottes Allé
Østerbro, Copenhagen
CountryDenmark
DenominationProtestant
History
StatusChurch
Architecture
Architect(s)Theodor Wåhlin
Architectural typeChurch
StyleJugendstil
Groundbreaking1908
Completed1911
Specifications
MaterialsBrick
Administration
ProvinceChurch of Sweden Abroad

Swedish Gustaf's Church (Swedish: Svenska Gustafskyrkan), part of the Church of Sweden Abroad, is the church of the Swedish congregation in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built between 1907 and 1911 to the design of the Swedish architect Theodor Wåhlin (1864–1948) and is named after King Gustaf V of Sweden.[1]

History

The Swedish Church's activities in Copenhagen began in 1901 when Pastor Nils Widner was sent there to work among Swedish sailors. The work, however, soon embraced the many thousands of other Swedes in and around Copenhagen.[2] Religious services were initially held in the Garrison Church on Sankt Annæ Plads, and in rented premises in Rysenstensgade there were daily gatherings in the various compounds that eventually formed.[3]

Swedish Gustaf's Church exterior
Relief by Henrik Starcke

The need for a church grew, and in 1903 the Swedish Church Society was formed which saw it as its task to realize the construction of a Swedish church in Copenhagen. Swedes who then lived in Copenhagen decided to donate 10 øre per week to finance the church building and the Swedish architect Theodor Wåhlin, resident architect at Lund Cathedral, was charged with its design.

As had been the case with St. Alban's English Church two decades earlier, a site was provided by the Danish state on the bank of the moat surrounding Kastellet, although on the opposite, north-western, corner, on the site of the former Grønlands Bastion.

The foundation stone was laid in 1908 at a ceremony attended by both the Swedish and Danish royal couples, and the new church was consecrated in 1911. The Danish architect Gotfred Tvede (1863–1947) supervised the construction, assisted by Hans Alfred Jørgen Jørgensen (1878–1923).[4][5]

Architecture

The church is designed in the Jugendstil style and is built in a hard-burnt brownish brick. The complex includes church halls, a community centre, offices, a rectory, staff houses, archives and storage rooms.[3] The exterior wall contains a relief designed by the Danish artist Henrik Starcke (1899–1973).[6]

Furnishings

The current organ has 31 steps and was installed in 1947. The pulpit was created by the sculptor Niels Hansen in Copenhagen. The altar is of black granite and has the christogram IHS, usually interpreted as Iesus, Hominum Salvator – "Jesus, Savior of man".

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Svenska Gustafskyrkan.

References

  1. ↑ "Wåhlin, Theodor (1864–1948)". KulturNav. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  2. ↑ "Turen går til udenlandske kirker – i København". Folkekirkens Infocenter i Københavns Stift. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Historik". Gustavkirken. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Gotfred Tvede". Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbach Kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "Hans Alfred Jørgen Jørgensen". Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbach Kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  6. ↑ "Henrik Starcke". Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbach Kunstnerleksikon. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
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