# Gedser Church

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Church in Falster, Denmark

Gedser Church Gedser Kirke Gedser Church Location Gedser, Falster Country Denmark Denomination Church of Denmark Architecture Architect(s) Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint, Carl Andersen Years built 1913–1915 Administration Diocese Diocese of Lolland–Falster Deanery Falster Provsti Parish Gedser Sogn

**Gedser Church** lies in the town of [Gedser](/source/Gedser) on the southern tip of the [Danish](/source/Denmark) island of [Falster](/source/Falster). It is the church of Gedser Parish. Completed in 1915, it was designed by [Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint](/source/Peder_Vilhelm_Jensen-Klint), best known for designing [Grundtvig's Church](/source/Grundtvig's_Church) in [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen).

## History

Over the centuries, the two parish churches of southern Falster had been located in Skelby and Gedesby. When Gedser grew to a community of 1,000 to 1,300 around the end of the 19th century, the need for a church became stronger. While visiting the town, the crown prince, later [King Frederik VIII](/source/Frederik_VIII_of_Denmark), is quoted as saying: "It is too far to Gedesby and it is good to hear God's word every once in a while."[1]

In 1907, a church committee was set up and [Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint](/source/Peder_Vilhelm_Jensen-Klint) was commissioned to design the building. Despite a very tight budget, construction began in 1913 and the church was consecrated on [Palm Sunday](/source/Palm_Sunday) 1915.[1]

Legend has it that the day a church is completed in Gedser, the sea will wipe away the town. Somewhere or other, there is therefore a missing brick so that it can never be said that the church has been completed.[1]

## Architecture

With its yellow brickwork and vertical ornamentation resembling [organ pipes](/source/Organ_pipe), the exterior bears similarities to Jensen-Klint's later and much more famous work, [Grundtvig's Church](/source/Grundtvig's_Church) in [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen). But this does not extend to the inside which is dominated by the imposing timber structure of the roof which looks like an inverted [ship's hull](/source/Hull_(watercraft)), reflecting the town's nautical traditions as a port and important ferry terminal. The ribs work as supporting columns. The most striking ornamentation of the interior is the fresco in the demi-domal vault above the choir. When the church was completed, there were no funds for a painting but by 1924, public collections and gifts had provided the necessary means. On Jensen-Klint's recommendation, a still young Elof Riseby was charged with the assignment. The fresco is inspired by [John 3:16](/source/John_3%3A16): *For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son*.

## Gallery

		- Facade with main entrance

		- Facade detail

		- The interior

		- Ribs used as supporting columns

		- Altar painting

## See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Gedser Kirke](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Gedser_Kirke).

- [Architecture of Denmark](/source/Architecture_of_Denmark)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gedser_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gedser_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Gedser_1-2) ["Gedser Sogn"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100624224431/http://www.skelby-gedesby-gedser.dk/). Gedser Sogn. Archived from [the original](http://www.skelby-gedesby-gedser.dk/) on 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2010-06-16.

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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gedser Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gedser_Church) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gedser_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.