# Birket Church > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Birket_Church > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Birket_Church.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birket_Church > Source revision: 1354560262 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Church in Lolland, Denmark Birket Church Birket Kirke Birket Church Location Birket, Lolland Country Denmark Denomination Church of Denmark Architecture Style Gothic architecture Administration Diocese Diocese of Lolland–Falster Parish Birket Sogn **Birket Church** ([Danish](/source/Danish_language): Birket Kirke) is located south of the little village of [Birket](/source/Birket), some 14 km (8.7 mi) northeast of [Nakskov](/source/Nakskov) on the Danish island of [Lolland](/source/Lolland). Its [chancel](/source/Chancel) was originally the nave of the brick [Gothic](/source/Gothic_architecture) church built in 1350.[1] The bell tower, which stands apart from the church, is believed to be Denmark's oldest standing wooden structure.[2] ## History Map of Birket Parish. Built around 1350, the church is rather younger than many country churches in the area which are typically from the 12th and 13th centuries.[2] Until 1687, it had its own parish priest but it was then annexed to Vesterborg until 1914. After the [Reformation](/source/Danish_Reformation) it came under the ownership of the Crown but in 1686 was transferred to Pedr Brandt of [Pederstrup](/source/Pederstrup). The church became independent in 1914.[3] ## Architecture The church, built of brick on a fieldstone base, consists of a chancel, a nave and a porch. The chancel with its three-sided eastern gable is all that remains of the original brick building from c. 1350. Around 1500, the original nave was replaced by the nave in the [Late Gothic](/source/Gothic_architecture) style which stands today. The vaulted ceilings of the nave and chancel were added at the same time. The church's exterior is now plastered over and painted yellow.[1] ## Bell Tower Wooden bell tower (c. 1350) The wooden [bell tower](/source/Bell_tower) which stands apart from the church near the main entrance to the churchyard is the best preserved example of its kind in Denmark's country churches and one of the finest Medieval timber structures still standing in Denmark and possibly the oldest. Built on the top of an ancient [burial mound](/source/Tumulus), it consists of a heavy framework of oak on a fieldstone foundation.[3] The exterior covering of tarred planks has been replaced several times over the years, most recently in 1974.[2][4] It was one of the bell towers studied when the [open-air museum](/source/Open-air_museum) [Middelaldercentret](/source/Middelaldercentret) on western Lolland build a bell tower in 2009.[5] ## Interior The church's former [altarpiece](/source/Altarpiece), a triptych carved by [Benedict Dreyer](/source/Benedict_Dreyer) of [Lübeck](/source/L%C3%BCbeck) in the early 16th century, is now in the [National Museum](/source/National_Museum_of_Denmark). It has been replaced by a painting from c. 1800 of Christ's burial attributed to Johan Georg Wahl. The [pulpit](/source/Pulpit) from the second half of the 18th century has been put together from pieces of various origins, some perhaps from an earlier pulpit. The polygonal Gothic [font](/source/Baptismal_font), as old as the church itself, is in [Gotland](/source/Gotland) limestone. Its reliefs depict two birds, an eagle, a cock and a fanciful combination of a lion's body, a horse's head and a human face.[3] ## Frescos Frescos in the chancel In 1900, [frescos](/source/Church_frescos_in_Denmark) depicting a [Gethsemane](/source/Gethsemane) scene were discovered in the chancel by [Jacob Kornerup](/source/Jacob_Kornerup) who restored them in 1910.[3] Jesus is depicted before an altar bearing a chalice containing rice, corn and a whip. The three apostles are shown reading as soldiers in armor typical of the 16th century arrive. A pelican with a halo stands in the centre, reflecting a passage from [Revelation](/source/Book_of_Revelation).[1] ## See also - [List of churches on Lolland](/source/List_of_churches_on_Lolland) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nk_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nk_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nk_1-2) ["Birket kirke"](http://www.nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Birket_kirke/Birket_kirke.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110914212356/http://www.nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Birket_kirke/Birket_kirke.htm) 2011-09-14 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *Nordens Kirker*. (in Danish) Retrieved 29 July 2013. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bla_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bla_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bla_2-2) ["Birket Kirke"](http://www.birketsogn.dk/index-filer/Page1704.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130607090250/http://www.birketsogn.dk/index-filer/Page1704.htm) June 7, 2013, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Birket Lokalhistorisk Arkiv. (in Danish) Retrieved 30 July 2013. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-natmus_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-natmus_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-natmus_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-natmus_3-3) [Kirsten Weber-Andersen, Otto Norn, Aage Roussell, Gertrud Købke Knudsen, "Birket Kirke"](http://danmarkskirker.natmus.dk/uploads/tx_tcchurchsearch/Maribo_0634-0649.pdf), *Danmarks kirker: Maribo amt, Volume 8*, 1951, Nationalmuseet, pages 634-649. (in Danish) Retrieved 14 July 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Birket kirke"](http://historiskatlas.dk/Birket_kirke_(5688)), *Historisk Atlas*. (in Danish) Retrieved 1 August 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-årsberetning2009_5-0)** Hansen, Peter Vemming (2010-05-12). ["Årsberetning 2009"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160324040611/http://www.guldborgsund.dk/eDagsorden/committee_100/agenda_76970/documents/20305025e37.pdf) (PDF). Guldborgsund Kommune. Archived from [the original](http://www.guldborgsund.dk/eDagsorden/committee_100/agenda_76970/documents/20305025e37.pdf) (PDF) on 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2014-03-30. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Birket Kirke](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Birket_Kirke). - [Parish priests](http://www.birketarkiv.dk/index-filer/Page3324.htm) at the church v t e Lolland, Denmark Towns and villages Bandholm Birket Branderslev Dannemare Guldborg Holeby Horslunde Hunseby Kettinge Maribo Nagelsti Nakskov Nørreballe Nysted Øster Ulslev Rødby Rødbyhavn Sakskøbing Sandby Søllested Stokkemarke Sundby Toreby Localities Albuen Culture and attractions Fuglsang Art Museum Fuglsang Cultural Centre Knuthenborg Safaripark Lalandia Maribo Open-Air Museum Middelaldercentret Reventlow Museum Stiftsmuseum Maribo Churches Arninge Church Avnede Church Bandholm Church Birket Church Dannemare Church Errindlev Church Frederiksdal Fuglse Church Gloslunde Church Halsted Church Horslunde Church Hunseby Church Købelev Church Maribo Cathedral Nakskov Church Olstrup Church Østofte Church Sandby Church Sakskøbing Church Stokkemarke Church Tågerup Church Tillitse Church Toreby Church Manor houses Aalholm Berritzgaard Bramsløkke Christianssæde Engestofte Fredholm Halsted Priory Højbygård Knuthenborg Knuthenlund Krenkerup Lungholm Orebygaard Pederstrup Rudbjerggaard Sæbyholm Søholt Søllestedgård Vindeholme Other landmarks Gloslunde Rectory Kattinge Windmill Kong Svends Høj Nakskov Old Pharmacy Oreby Mølle Reventlow Asylum Reventlow Warehouse Geography Guldborgsund Maribo Lakes Nature Reserve Nakskov Fjord History 1872 Baltic Sea flood Maribo Abbey Nysted Friary Transport Danish national road 9 E47 Fehmarn Belt fixed link Frederick IX Bridge Guldborgsund Bridge Lolland Falster Airport Scandlines South Line Other Diocese of Lolland–Falster Guldborgsund Municipality Lolland Municipality [54°53′26″N 11°19′55″E / 54.89056°N 11.33194°E / 54.89056; 11.33194](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Birket_Church¶ms=54_53_26_N_11_19_55_E_) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Birket Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birket_Church) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birket_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.