{{Infobox church |name = Faxe Church |image = FaxeKirke.jpg |caption = Faxe Church |pushpin_map = Denmark Zealand |pushpin_label_position = none |pushpin_map_alt = |pushpin_mapsize = |map_caption = Faxe Church in [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]] |coordinates = {{coord|55|15|20|N|12|07|12|E|display=inline,title}} |dedication = [[Evangelical Lutheran]] |denomination = [[Church of Denmark]] |previous_denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] |churchmanship = |website = }} '''Faxe Church''' ({{langx|da|Faxe Kirke}}) is a [[Denmark|Danish]] church located in the [[Diocese of Roskilde]], in [[Faxe]], [[Region Sjælland]] on the island of [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]]. It was built at the end of the 15th century on a site where there had originally been a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] church. A number of [[fresco]]s, probably painted by artists from the [[Brarup Church|Brarup workshop]], have been uncovered on the [[cross vault]]s, most recently above the organ.
==History== The red-brick church was probably built in or shortly after 1492 when [[John, King of Denmark|King Hans]] transferred the site into the ownership of [[Copenhagen University]].<ref name="Kirkehistoriske samlinger">{{cite book|title=Kirkehistoriske samlinger|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4NQAAAAAcAAJ|accessdate=24 April 2013|year=1891|publisher=Selskabet|language=Danish|page=197| isbn=9781010919834 }}</ref> The masonry, however, contains traces of an earlier [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] limestone structure, probably dating from [[Valdemar Atterdag]]'s reign.<ref name=nk/>
==Architecture==
Today's [[Gothic architecture|late Gothic]] building, {{convert|40|m|abbr=on}} in length, has a brick nave with limestone trimmings. On the south wall, the pointed arch of a now bricked-up door can be seen, probably once the priest's entrance. The tower was built at the same time as the nave or shortly afterwards. Its east gable has nine narrow blank windows of varying heights and three Gothic windows which have been bricked in. Decorations in the form of limestone belts reach the level of the roof on the eastern side but have been less systematically completed elsewhere, perhaps indicating rushed construction work. In the 17th century, the northern aisle was added in order to accommodate the growing number of parishioners.<ref name=nk>[http://www.nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Fakse_kirke/Fakse_kirke.htm "Fakse kirke"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131090143/http://nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Fakse_kirke/Fakse_kirke.htm |date=2011-01-31 }}, ''Norderns Kirker''. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 22 April 2013.</ref><ref name=ha>[http://historiskatlas.dk/Faxe%20Kirke "Fakse Kirke"], ''Historisk Atlas''. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 22 April 2013.</ref>
==Interior== The nave is covered with five [[cross vault]]s supported by wall pillars. The tower room has a cross-vaulted area which probably served as a [[baptistry]] until it became a porch for the west entrance in 1638.<ref name="Both1871">{{cite book|last=Both|first=L.|title=Danmark: deel. Østifterne|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=53AxAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA232|accessdate=24 April 2013|year=1871|publisher=F. Wøldike|language=Danish|page=232}}</ref> The [[altarpiece]] consists of a 1717 painting by [[Hendrick Krock]], [[Frederik IV of Denmark|Frederik IV]]'s court painter.<ref>[http://www.tryggevaeldeprovsti.dk/index.php?id=1960 "Faxe Sogn"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130701045416/http://www.tryggevaeldeprovsti.dk/index.php?id=1960 |date=2013-07-01 }}, Tryggevælde Provosti. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 22 April 2013.</ref> The [[pulpit]] is probably from [[Abel Schrøder]]'s workshop (1614–1615). The altar is flanked by the figures of Mary and John, which together with the chancel arch cross in the north aisle, probably hung between the chancel and the nave. The northern aisle contains two sculpted limestone which probably stem from the earlier church. The lions and snakes which decorate them could well have been sculpted by an artist from [[Jutland]] as they are not typical of the region. The Romanesque granite font decorated with four palms comes from Bondo Friso's workshop (1200–1250).<ref name=nk/>
<gallery class="center" heights=180px widths=180px> File:Nordenskirker Fakse14.jpg|Pulpit (1615) File:Nordenskirker Fakse07.jpg|Interior File:Nordenskirker Fakse08.jpg|Altarpiece (1717) </gallery>
==Frescos== The frescos in the tower room were discovered by Magnus Petersen in 1862 and restored by [[Jacob Kornerup]] in 1877 and H. Borre in 1950. The vault displays scenes from the legend of [[John the Baptist]]. His capture can be seen in the north segment while the east segment shows [[Herod II|Herod]] at a table with [[Herodias]] and [[Salome]], a servant bearing John's head and placing it before Salome. The south segment depicts John's decapitation with Herod arranging his execution on the eastern side. On the north wall of the tower room there is a fresco of [[Saint George and the Dragon|George and the Dragon]], on the far western side the king and queen are shown on the town wall, the princess being shown at the top. The eastern image displays the [[martyrdom]] of [[Simon the Apostle]].<ref name=nk/> In 2007, frescos from the beginning of the 16th century were also discovered in the vault above the organ and are now being restored. Painted by the Brarup workshop, they show the [[Descent from the Cross]], the [[Pietà]], the [[Entombment of Christ|Entombment]] and the [[Ascension of Jesus|Ascension]]. Investigations have also revealed that the whole church was decorated by the Brarup workshop.<ref name=nk/><ref name=ha/>
<gallery class="center" heights=130px widths=180px> File:Nordenskirker Fakse24.jpg|John baptising Jesus File:Nordenskirker Fakse26.jpg|John the Baptist's capture File:Nordenskirker Fakse29.jpg|Serving John the Baptist's head File:Nordenskirker Fakse(52).jpg|Fresco above the organ </gallery>
==Churchyard== Notable burials in the surrounding churchyard include: * [[Malthe Engelsted]] (1852-1930), painter * [[Kjeld Gustav Knuth-Winterfeldt]] (1908-1992), duokimat and lord chamberlain * [[Conrad Nielsen]] (1866-1914), businessman * [[Nikoline Nielsen (businesswoman)|Nicoline Nielsen]] (1874-1951), businesswoman
==See also== *[[List of churches in Region Zealand]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Faxe Kirke}} *[https://archive.today/20130701050343/http://www.tryggevaeldeprovsti.dk/index.php?id=1712 Faxe parish website] {{in lang|da}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Churches in Faxe Municipality]] [[Category:15th-century churches in Denmark]] [[Category:Churches in the Diocese of Roskilde]] [[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1492]] [[Category:Churches completed in the 1490s]] [[Category:Gothic architecture in Denmark]] [[Category:Church frescos in Denmark]] [[Category:Lutheran churches converted from Roman Catholicism]]