Church Experiences 01 Copenhagen Churches
Process Catalogue 2: Church Experiences 01 Spatial Design Institute for Architecture and Design The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Tutor: Lise Juel Katrine Brun Knudsen, 5339
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Introduction This catalogue includes some of my visits to different Danish Churches. I have defined them as Copenhagen Churches, as the churches are situated in the city (except from one). I have registered all of them in text, pictures and sketches; this catalogue provides a small description and a sketch for every church visit. This has helped me to understand what a church building is and can be in Copenhagen and how it is used. It has also given me insights to the congregations of Copenhagen.
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Brorsons Kirke A Sunday Service I sit in the left of the church. I look at the altar in the middle. The priest is sitting among the rest of us. I guess we are 30 people in the church - including the band. After the band has played, the priest stands and explains that the service is extraordinary and is held because of the annual collection for DanChurchAid. The priest does not make use of the pulpit. the chairs are not the original. The organ is not in use. There is no choir, but a woman with a nice voice and a microphone. The songs are not from the known hymn book, but from the songbook of the church. The communion is done standing and with the possibility of lighting a candle behind the circle of chairs. The service ends with the band performing “you have got a friend in me�. The priest is very open when I leave, and invites me to come back soon.
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Davids Kirken A Sunday Service I enter together with a friend of mine. We hang our coats in the wardrobe and sit in the back. Very few goers this sunday. Very common service. The church is small. Very white, but yet quiet dark, with windows only on one side; besides from by the altar that is lit up by to round windows. Chairs in stead of benches, After the cermony one of the goers are asking us if we are joining for church coffee, but we can’t stay this afternoon. The other goers are certainly all coming every sunday and all go to the congregation hall for coffee. Coming again another day talking to the verger, I see the kitchen and congregation hall. It is the smallest church of Copenhagen and has its administration upstairs.
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Esajas Kirke Michaelmas I am running late. I get in a minute before the door closes. The weather is cold and wet. It’s dark. A hundred people are already in the church. A few benches are empty. I choose an empty bench in the back. Right after I sit down a choir comes out a door from behind me. They walk up the aile. All young girls. After them walks boys and girls the same age. Around 25 in total. The choir sings and the others turnout to be candidates for confirmation. They alternate between the choir singing and the candidates reading aloud from the bible. Two priest are present and they say a few words on the readings. Hundreds of candles are lit. The kids seems very vulnerable as they perform. The happenings that last around an hour. I talk shortly with the priest before leaving to go back into the rain.
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Frederiks Kirken A Saturday Afternoon I am biking around Copenhagen on a Saturday afternoon to see some of the more turistic churches of Copenhagen. Walking into Frederiks kirken I take a leaflet about respect and prayers in the church. More than 50 people are in the church as I sit down. I asume they all are turists. It is quiet compared to the number of people. The dome ceiling seemed to take most peoples attention. The high ceiling also catches my attention first. Next the impressive marble and the detailing of the walls.
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Hans Egedes Kirke A Tuesday Morning Hans Egede Kirke is the only existing church in the parish of the coming church in Nordhavn. It is the Faroe Islands church of copenhagen and have speciale services for Faroese. It is open on most week days. It is a �brokirke� and from the begging of the 20th century as the most of the Copenhagen Churches. I take a lot of pictures and sit down by the altar. The altar piece is a bit different, but other than that it has many features in common with the other churches from the time period.
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Hellig Kors Kirke A Sunday Service with baptism I sit in the back of the church. Many people this sunday. I guess it is because of the baptism. The priest begins. Every so often the door behind me opens and guest comes in. The service started at 10 and usually it is at 10.30; maybe this causes some confusion. I listen carefully to the priest. He is a good speaker. I get annoyed by whispering in the church. The goers are definitely not all interested in the preach. The priest uses the pulpit and the microphone. Speaking to him afterwards he reveals that he only uses the pulpit when there are many people, for the sound to be better.
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Herstedøster Kirke Christmas Service My friend told me to arrive 30 minutes prior to the service - so I did. The church was already full at my arrival. I sat very close to a stranger waiting for the service to begin. There were people standing and sitting everywhere in the church as the service began. The service was as expected in the medieval church. There were to be 3 more services on christmas eves day. After the service we went to the priest house, just by the church, as my friend knows the priest well. We talked about life and the church, especially with his wife, as he had to go back to prepare the next service.
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KildevĂŚlds Kirke A Sunday Service with baptism I arrive from the back of the church, placing my bike by the entrance to the church office. I enter the church as the service starts. I easily understand that there is a baptism this Sunday, as the church is quiet full. The church is a red brick church, but white on the inside, like most of the Copenhagen churches. The service in unregularly boring. As the service finishes most of the guests leave, but a few goes to the front of the church for church coffee.
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Lundehus Kirke A Singalong I place my bike in front of the church as a lady passes me. I ask her if she is going for the singalong and fortunately she is. I follow her through a small door where we pass a parish hall, where a woman is preparing for breakfast and coffee for the locals. I follow the lady to next room, where 8 people are already sitting around a table. I guess the age average is 70, even though I am present with my 26 years. We wait a few minutes before we start singing. It does not sound pretty, as not everyone knows the melodies nor tones. We sing for an hour, untill a church servant stops us, as baby rythmics are starting in the nave and they can hear us through the removable wall. We drink a cup of coffee and discuss how to open up the church towards society, before I go to take a look inside the nave and leave the church.
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Luther Kirken Closed I ride my bike to Luther Kirken for the third time. There are different churches in Copenhagen, that I have been wanting to visit, but are closed when I arrive. Luther Kirken announce on their website that they are open sometimes. I have been wanting to visit it, because it is close to Nordhavn, but without luck. From the outside it is a red brick church on the corner of middle sized streets of Ă˜sterbro. It only rarely has Sunday Services, but has man nights, choirs etc. in collaboration with Frihavns Kirken.
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Sankt Jakobs Kirke A Thursday afternoon I have tried to visit this church earlier, without luck, but today the doors are open. I go inside and sit on one of the benches. A candle is lit in the baptistery. I sit down to look and think. I sit comfotably, so I start reading my book while Is sit there. It makes me a little nervous to just stay to read. I read for 45 minutes or an hour with no interruptions.
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Sions Kirke A Tuesday Morning I enter right before baby rythmics begin. The facilitator locks the door behind me. I walk around i the back of the church and on the first floor, not to disturb. There are just 6 moms with babies present. I try to be silent and walk out through the back door by the offices. The church is quiet something with its balconies and colours.
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