St. Bendt’s Church: Denmark’s Royal Landmark

St. Bendt’s Church is a display of classic Romanesque architecture and a proud symbol of Danish identity. The statue of Valdemar the Great, the Danish king who commissioned the church, stands in front of the church, as a tribute to his father, and one of Denmark’s most illustrious medieval monarchs. Thomas Boege/Shutterstock

St. Bendt’s church in Ringsted, Denmark, is Scandinavia’s oldest brick church and Denmark’s first royal church. In 1170, King Valdemar I of Denmark commissioned a church to be built as a sepulcher and shrine for his father, St. Canute.

The church originally formed the northern wing of a Benedictine monastery. The church was built as a separate structure in the Lombard style, a form of early Romanesque architecture from northern Italy.

Some of the church’s Romanesque features are its brick stone façade, wall carvings, round arches, thick walls, sturdy pillars, and decorative arcades. St. Bendt’s church also features later additions in the Gothic style, such as the vaults and the tower’s pointed arches.

The church has a cruciform plan, with a central nave, transepts, and a tower rising high above its crossing.

The church also hosts beautiful frescos, known as “kallkmalerier,” which represent Danish monarchs and religious figures. They were uncovered by Danish archeologist Jacob Kornerup in 1868. The 1609 pulpit and the 1699 altarpiece are other highlights of St. Bendt’s.

Between 1899 and 1910, Danish architect H.B. Storck directed a renovation of St. Bendt’s, restoring the church to its original Romanesque style.

In 12th-century Denmark, red brick was one of the most common building materials available. St. Bendt’s red brick exterior is said to be the oldest in Denmark and features a geometric façade with stone carvings, sturdy walls, rounded sections, slender windows, and a Romanesque tower. Stig Alenas/Shutterstock

The entrance opens to a central nave. Clerestory windows, high on the walls, and windows on the first level provide a soft light to the exterior. Rounded arches and towering columns support the vaulted ceiling. Unlike the arched brick walls and the dark stone floors, the ceiling’s arches that lead the eye toward the sanctuary are light and delicate, and are adorned with elegant decorative motifs and sculpted reliefs. Stig Alenas/Shutterstock

A close-up of St. Bendt’s vaulted ceiling shows a great example of medieval architectural ingenuity. Adorned with intricately carved wooden beams, the ceiling rises high above the nave, creating a sense of grandeur and awe-inspiring beauty. Each beam is delicately crafted with decorative motifs, simple geometric patterns, and symbolic imagery. More than a structural element, the ceiling serves as a canvas for faith. Birger Niss/Shutterstock

The pulpit of St. Bendt’s Church is a striking example of medieval craftsmanship within a sacred space. The elevated pulpit is carved from wood and is intricately adorned with ornate carvings, symbolic motifs, and biblical scenes. These carvings include colorful depictions of saints, angels, and apostles. Above the pulpit, an ornate wooden canopy is adorned with gilded reliefs and intricate carvings that represent the four elements. Birger Niss/Shutterstock

The altar and chancel of St. Bendt’s Church embodies the sacred heart of the church. Situated at the eastern end of the church, the altar is a focal point of the chancel, a designated area for religious rites. Contrasting the church’s brick walls, it is adorned with gold carvings, symbolic imagery, and sacred objects. Stig Alenas/Shutterstock

Crafted with detail and precision, the altarpiece commands attention with its sacred imagery and rich symbolism. It dates from 1699 and depicts the Last Supper, painted by an unknown artist. Sculpted religious figures, sacred objects, and gilded ornaments embellish the structure. Birger Niss/Shutterstock

One of the most famous frescoes of St. Bendt’s church is of Queen Agnes. Painted around 1300, this fresco depicts the queen consort of Denmark, sitting on her golden throne. On her left, soldiers are depicted drowning King Eric V, and on her right, fishermen are retrieving the king’s corpse from the sea to be taken to St. Bendts. The style of the painting is akin to Italian frescoes, featuring Latin inscriptions on the top and colorful, water-based paint. (Stig Alenas/Shutterstock) 

Another of the chapel’s frescoes, designed to embellish the church, portrays a lively scene from medieval times. In this particular painting, three figures are depicted playing a board game. They are surrounded by inscriptions, bright colors, and plant motifs. Stig Alenas/Shutterstock

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