Vestervig Church

Facts

The largest village church in Scandinavia

By Lise Andersen, Museumsinspektør, mag.art. (17 stories)

Vestervig Church in Vendsyssel was once the north wing of a four-wing Augustine abbey that was founded in about 1100. After the Reformation, the abbey was sold as a manor house. It was later demolished, making the abbey church the largest village church in Scandinavia. The south wall of the choir stalls has a triangular relief with St. Thøger's hallmark: a lamb with a cross. The relief is said to come from the pilgrimage church – its foundation is about 200 metres from the abbey church. St. Thøger's pilgrimage church was a cathedral until the bishop's residence moved to Børglum in 1134. The pilgrimage church was demolished in 1547. Vestervig Churchyard contains the grave of poor Little Kirsten. According to legend, she was forced to dance herself to death after having an affair with Prince Buris.

Public place

Selected entry

Miracle spells sainthood for Thøger

Story written by Lise Andersen

Time / Periode 1030 1100

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Thøger was a curate for King Olav the Holy. He travelled from Thüringen to Vendsyssel as a missionary after the battle of Stiklestad (1030). He then settled near Vestervig and built a chapel. When Thøger died, the locals made him a saint. But rather hastily, it appeared, as the Pope had not given his approval. Tempers flared in the Danish church community and an attempt was made to burn Thøger's wooden chest or reliquary. Miraculously, the reliquary would not burn. Thøger therefore achieved the status of saint in Denmark. According to legend, a spring welled up on the spot where Thøger had rested on arriving at Thy. The North Jutlanders built a pilgrimage church here and later an abbey in his honour. St. Thøger's spring was revered for its healing powers until the mid-1860s.