Gedser Church

Facts

Denmark's southernmost church

By Birgit Wilster Hansen (3 stories)

Gedser Church was consecrated on Palm Sunday in 1915. It was the first church on Gedser Peninsula. Very few people lived there until the railway and harbour were built in 1886. After 1886, though, a community began to grow. When the Gedser-Warnemünde ferry route was established in 1903, things really took off. The only church was in Gedesby, and that was too far away for the residents of Gedser. Gedser Church was built of yellow bricks with a red tiled roof. It was designed by architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint based on the work of a local architect. But it was never completed.

Public place

Selected entry

One brick from the brink

Story written by Birgit Wilster Hansen

Time / Periode 1915

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Legend has it that a flood will wash the town and church into the sea as soon as it is finished. For that reason, a brick is missing somewhere on the church. Only the master bricklayer knew which one was missing. And he took the secret with him to his grave. Brick or not, the church is still standing and you can safely go in. Inside, the beautiful vaulted wooden ceiling resembles a boat more than anything. This was to reflect that Gedser is a harbour and ferry town. Architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint designed the church, and he also designed a large part of the furnishings, including the pulpit, granite font and the seven-armed candelabra on the altar. He also recommended that Elof Riseby created the murals near the choir stalls, in 1924.