Freerslev Church

{{Infobox church | denomination = [[Church of Denmark]] | name = Freerslev Church | native_name = Freerslev Kirke | native_name_lang = Danish | image = FreerslevKirke.jpg | country = [[Denmark]] | diocese = [[Diocese of Roskilde]] | parish = Freerslev Sogn | deanery = Tryggevælde Provsti }}

'''Freerslev Church''' ({{langx|da|Freerslev Kirke}}) is located in the [[Denmark|Danish]] [[Diocese of Roskilde]], [[Faxe Municipality]] in [[Region Sjælland]] on the island of [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]]. Parts of the original [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] church subsist today although there have been substantial [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] additions. Primitive 14th-century frescos have been uncovered in the arch of an old window on the north wall.

==History== The [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] sections of the church probably date from the beginning of the 13th century but the first documented reference is in the Bishop of Roskilde's Taxation Book (''Roskildebispens Jordebog'') c. 1370. In 1672 [[Hans Schack]], who had bought the nearby [[Gisselfeld]] estate the year before, was granted [[jus patronatus]] ownership. In 1762, the church was sold to the statesman [[Adam Gottlob Moltke]] (1710-1792<ref name="Majvang1972">{{cite book|last=Majvang|first=Arne|title=Haslev og Freerslev Sognes historie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1fpBAAAAIAAJ|access-date=24 April 2013|year=1972|publisher=Aage Sands Boghandel|page=81}}</ref>) of [[Bregentved]]. It gained its independence in 1911.<ref name=vhpn>"Freerslev Kirke" in Victor Hermansen and Poul Nørlund, ''Danmarks Kirker: Sorø Amt'', Nationalmuseet 1936, pages 581–587.</ref>

==Architecture== Located south of the village of Freerslev on a hilltop between [[Haslev]] and the [[European route E47|E47 motorway]],<ref>[http://www.haslevkirke.dk/freerslev-kirke/ "Freerslev Kirke"], Haslev Kirke. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 24 April 2013.</ref> Freerslev Church dates back to c. 1200. Of the original Romanesque church, the north and south walls of the [[nave]], built of Faxe limestone, still remain. At the centre of the north wall, a window from the original building was reopened in 1914. Probably as far back as the 13th century, the nave was lengthened towards the west, the lateral walls being constructed of chalk and fieldstone while the gable was brick. In the 14th century, the tower was added, only two storeys high, decorated with belts of brick and chalk. The outer walls are decorated with nine vertical blank windows.<ref name=vhpn/>

The porch was originally built of brick in the late [[Middle Ages]] but was later heightened while new doors and windows were added. In 1886–87, the old [[chancel]] was demolished. An old grave containing two skeletons was discovered, possibly dating from a former wooden church. The chancel was rebuilt in yellow brick with a semi-circular [[apse]].<ref name=vhpn/>

==Interior== The granite [[Baptismal font|font]] in the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] style has rope-like framing around 11 rounded segments and a thicker rope decoration just above the base. The decorated baptismal bowl from c. 1550 was created at the [[Nuremberg]] workshop. The high [[Renaissance art|Renaissance]] [[altarpiece]] from c. 1600 is in fir, its wing decorations flanking the text of the [[Lord's Prayer]]. The more recent headpiece contains a picture of the [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection]]. The Renaissance [[pulpit]] and its canopy are the work of artists from [[Næstved]].<ref name=vhpn/> The chancel was fully restored and repainted in 1989.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130630141018/http://www.visitdenmark.com/nb/danmark/freerslev-kirke-gdk618434 "Freerselv Church"], Visit Denmark. Retrieved 24 April 2013.</ref><ref name=kid>[http://www.danmarks-kirker.dk/roskilde/freerslev_ros.htm "Freerslev Kirke"], Kirker i Danmark. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 24 April 2013.</ref> The [[Marcussen & Søn|Marcussen]] organ with seven registers was installed in 1960.<ref>[http://www.kirkehistorie.dk/ring/ki716.htm "Freerskev Kirke"], Dansk kirkehistorie. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 24 April 2013.</ref>

===Frescoes=== The arch of the Romanesque window at the centre of the north wall is decorated with 14th-century russet-brown frescos which were rediscovered in 1914 after being limewashed at the time of the [[Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein|Reformation]]. They depict a stylized tree with triangular leaves flanked by two crosses and a bird perched on a lily.<ref name=vhpn/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite book|last=Majvang|first=Arne|title=Haslevs historie: Haslev og Freerslev sognes historie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6YtmPgAACAAJ|year=1967|publisher=Aage Sands Boghandel|pages=470|language=da}} *Victor Hermansen and Poul Nørlund, "Freerslev Kirke" in ''Danmarks Kirker: Sorø Amt'', Nationalmuseet 1936, pages 581–587

==External links== {{Commons category|Freerslev Kirke|Freerslev Church}} *[http://www.danmarks-kirker.dk/roskilde/freerslev_ros.htm Freerslev Kirke from Kirker i Danmark] with several photographs {{in lang|da}}

[[Category:Churches in Faxe Municipality]] [[Category:12th-century churches in Denmark]] [[Category:Churches in the Diocese of Roskilde]] [[Category:Romanesque architecture in Denmark]] [[Category:Church frescos in Denmark]] [[Category:Lutheran churches converted from Roman Catholicism]]