# Aastrup Church

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Church in Falster, Denmark

Aastrup Church Aastrup Kirke Aastrup Church Location Aastrup, Falster Country Denmark Denomination Church of Denmark History Founded ca. 1200 Architecture Style Romanesque architecture, Gothic architecture Administration Diocese Diocese of Lolland–Falster Deanery Falster Provsti Parish Aastrup Sogn

**Aastrup Church** ([Danish](/source/Danish_language): *Aastrup Kirke*), located on the top of a steep hill in the village of [Aastrup](/source/Aastrup%2C_Falster), 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southwest of [Stubbekøbing](/source/Stubbek%C3%B8bing) on the [Danish](/source/Denmark) island of [Falster](/source/Falster), dates from c. 1200. Built in the [Late Romanesque](/source/Romanesque_architecture) style, it has [frescos](/source/Fresco) from the 13th and 15th centuries.

## History

The church was dedicated to [St Anne](/source/Saint_Anne) although this was probably not its original patron as Anne was not generally known in Denmark until the late [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages). The Crown, which enjoyed clerical appointment rights since before the [Reformation](/source/Reformation_in_Denmark%E2%80%93Norway_and_Holstein), sold the church in 1767 to the parish priest, [Christian Henrik Biering](/source/Christian_Henrik_Biering). In 1810, [Peter Hersleb Classen](/source/Peter_Hersleb_Classen), director of [Det Classenske Fideicommis](/source/Det_Classenske_Fideicommis), transferred the church's ownership to the local landowners and in 1919 it became autonomous.[1]

## Architecture

The brick [chancel](/source/Chancel) and the [nave](/source/Nave) both have round arch friezes below the [cornice](/source/Cornice). The south door, partly bricked up, is still in use but the north door, whose remnants were uncovered in 1984, is completely closed. The nave was extended at the end of the 15th century when [cross-vaulting](/source/Cross-vault) replaced the flat ceiling. The remains of the priest's door can be seen on the south wall of the chancel. The east gable contains a rounded Romanesque window while traces of the other Romanesque windows can be seen in the masonry. The tower with stepped gables, built in the [Gothic](/source/Gothic_architecture) period, fills the full width of the nave. The porch dates from the same period.[2]

On the nave's eastern gable there is a relief of two heads and on the chancel's east gable, there is a head above the window. These have given rise to a legend about three virgins who had been to church in [Horbelev](/source/Horbelev) and were murdered when returning home: one in Horbelev, one in Aastrup and the third in [Grønsund](/source/Gr%C3%B8nsund). The three murderers were the women's brothers who were taken by robbers when they were small children. According to the legend, the three heads in Aastrup are those of the virgins while those on the tower at Horbelev are those of the robbers.[2]

## Interior

The Neoclassical [altarpiece](/source/Altarpiece) from 1838 has a painting of Christ at Emmaus by [Fritz Westphal](/source/Fritz_Westphal). The pulpit carved in the [auricular style](/source/Auricular_style) by [Jørgen Ringnis](/source/J%C3%B8rgen_Ringnis) (1645) is similar to those in [Toreby](/source/Toreby) and [Væggerløse](/source/V%C3%A6ggerl%C3%B8se_Church). The 55 cm (22 in) high [crucifix](/source/Crucifix) from around 1400 used to hang above the chancel arch but is now above the door to the porch. It depicts a thin figure whose thorn-covered head falls to his right shoulder. The arms are long and thin and the hands unnaturally small and stumpy. The church's limestone font is Late Gothic.[1]

## Frescos

Frescos in the chancel and the nave from the late 15th century were rediscovered underneath a whitewash in 1901. They are probably the work of the [Elmelunde Master](/source/Elmelunde_Master) and his workshop, although they also appear to have been influenced by the nearby Brarup workshop. They depict scenes from the [Creation](/source/Genesis_creation_narrative) and the [Passion](/source/Passion_of_Jesus), including [Christ bearing his cross](/source/Crucifixion_of_Jesus), the [suicide of Judas](/source/Judas_Iscariot#Death), and the [rich man and the poor man](/source/Rich_man_and_Lazarus). In 1943, an older fresco (c. 1275) depicting a [Majestas Domini](/source/Majestas_Domini) was discovered on the wall above the chancel arch.[3]

## Graveyard

Notable burials at the associated graveyard include former principal of Classen's Agricultural School Albert la Cour[4] and agriculturalist [Adolph Lacoppidan](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adolph_Lacoppidan&action=edit&redlink=1).[5]

## Gallery

		- The nave

		- Fresco: the rich man and the poor man

		- Fresco: Judas' death by suicide

		- Fresco: Christ bearing the cross

		- The font

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-natmus_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-natmus_1-1) [Kirsten Weber-Andersen, Otto Norn, Aage Roussell, Gertrud Købke Knudsen, "Tingsted Kirke"](http://danmarkskirker.natmus.dk/uploads/tx_tcchurchsearch/Maribo_1345-1358_02.pdf), *Danmarks kirker: Maribo amt, Volume 8*, 1951, Nationalmuseet, pages 1345–1358. (in Danish) Retrieved 14 November 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nk_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nk_2-1) ["Åstrup kirke"](http://www.nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Aastrup_kirke/Aastrup_kirke.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110130043207/http://nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Aastrup_kirke/Aastrup_kirke.htm) 2011-01-30 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Nordens kirker. (in Danish) Retrieved 25 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Aastrup kirke"](http://www.nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Aastrup_kirke/Aastrup_kirke.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110130043207/http://nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Aastrup_kirke/Aastrup_kirke.htm) 2011-01-30 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Nordens kirker. (in Danish) Retrieved 22 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Albert Philip la Cour"](https://www.gravsted.dk/person.php?navn=alacour). *gravsted.dk* (in Danish). Retrieved 27 July 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Hans Johan Georg Adolph Lacoppidan"](https://www.gravsted.dk/person.php?navn=adolphlacoppidan). *gravsted.dk* (in Danish). Retrieved 27 July 2023.

v t e Falster, Denmark Towns and villages Aastrup Eskilstrup Gedser Guldborg Hasselø Plantage Horbelev Idestrup Marielyst Nordbyen Nørre Alslev Nykøbing Falster Nykøbing Strandhuse Orehoved Ønslev Øster Kippinge Sønder Vedby Skovhuse Stubbekøbing Systofte Skovby Tingsted Torkilstrup Væggerløse Localities Hesnæs Kraghave Virket Culture and attractions Czarens Hus (Nykøbing's city museum) Danmarks Traktormuseum Falster Crocodile Zoo Guldborgsund Zoo Middelaldercentret Churches Aastrup Church Abbey Church, Nykøbing Brarup Church Eskilstrup Church Gedser Church Nørre Alslev Church Stubbekøbing Church Tingsted Church Torkilstrup Church Væggerløse Church Manor houses Corselitze Gammel Kirstineberg Gjedsergaard Orupgaard Valnæsgård Vennerslund Other landmarks Bøtø Nor Pumping Station Ejegod Windmill Generalens Lysthus Gåbense Færgegård Karleby Rectory Nykøbing Latin School Orehoved Lighthouse Torkilstrup Windmill Torkilstrup Rectory Geography Corselitze Forest Gedser Odde Grønsund Guldborgsund Kalvø Storstrømmen History 1872 Baltic Sea flood Falsters Virke Jørgen Ringnis Mecklenburg Ancestral Table Nykøbing Castle Siege of Nykøbing Johan Frederik Classen Transport E47 Farø Bridges Frederick IX Bridge Gedser Station Guldborgsund Bridge Nykøbing Falster railway station Scandlines South Line Storstrøm Bridge Other Diocese of Lolland–Falster Guldborgsund Municipality Det Classenske Fideicommis

[54°50′52″N 12°05′03″E / 54.84778°N 12.08417°E / 54.84778; 12.08417](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Aastrup_Church&params=54_50_52_N_12_05_03_E_)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aastrup Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aastrup_Church) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aastrup_Church?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.