# Tingsted Church

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Church in Falster, Denmark

Tingsted Church Tingsted Church Location Tingsted, Falster Country Denmark Denomination Church of Denmark History Dedication Saint Peter Architecture Architectural type Romanesque architecture, Gothic architecture Completed ca. 1200 Administration Diocese Diocese of Lolland–Falster Deanery Falster Provsti Parish Tingsted Sogn

**Tingsted Church**, located on high ground in the village of [Tingsted](/source/Tingsted) on the [Danish](/source/Denmark) island of [Falster](/source/Falster), dates from c. 1200. Built in the [Romanesque](/source/Romanesque_architecture) style, it is best known for its [frescos](/source/Fresco) from the end of the 15th century.

## History

At an early stage, the pink-plastered church was dedicated to St Peter. As the name Tingsted implies, the place was originally associated with early lawmaking in the area. In 1329, [King Christopher II](/source/Christopher_II_of_Denmark) concluded an agreement with [Marsk](/source/Rigsmarsk_(Denmark)) Ludvig Eberstein, head of the armed forces, after his surrender at [Hammershus](/source/Hammershus) and in 1329 made peace with [Count Johann of Holstein](/source/John_III%2C_Count_of_Holstein-Pl%C3%B6n). In 1511, Falster's *landsting* (regional council) was held in the churchyard and the following year [King Hans](/source/John%2C_King_of_Denmark) presided over a dispute between his [vassal](/source/Vassal) and the bishop.[1] [Jacob Christian Lindberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jacob_Christian_Lindberg&action=edit&redlink=1), who translated the Bible into Danish and, together with [Grundtvig](/source/N._F._S._Grundtvig) played an active part in religious reforms, was named [parish](/source/Parish) [pastor](/source/Pastor) in January 1844.[2]

## Architecture and fittings

Left: the nave. Right: the font.

Built of local [fieldstone](/source/Fieldstone) with limestone framing around the windows and doors, the church initially consisted of the [nave](/source/Nave), [chancel](/source/Chancel) and a half-domed [apse](/source/Apse). Traces of the original rounded windows highly positioned in the nave and apse can still be seen. Around 1500, the [Late Gothic](/source/Gothic_architecture) tower and porch were added and the flat ceiling in the nave was replaced by [cross-vaulting](/source/Groin_vault). The windows were later adapted to the positioning of the vaults. The tower probably had stepped gables until it received the pyramid-shaped spire. It is thought the relatively steep roof above the nave resulted from the need to provide room for the top of the arches used for the vaulting.[3]

The panel on the 17th-century altar is the work of [Antonius Clement](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antonius_Clement&action=edit&redlink=1), [Queen Sophia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sophie_af_Mecklenburg&action=edit&redlink=1)'s court painter. Its three niches have female figures representing [Faith, Hope and Charity](/source/Theological_virtues) and are bordered by slim figures representing the [cardinal virtues](/source/Cardinal_virtues): Temperance, Justice, Prudence and Fortitude. The elaborately worked [Renaissance](/source/Renaissance) [altarpiece](/source/Altarpiece) (1616) contains a painting of the [Last Supper](/source/Last_Supper). The [carved baroque](/source/Cartilage_baroque) pulpit (1633) by [Jørgen Ringnis](/source/J%C3%B8rgen_Ringnis) with paintings by Anthonius Clement bears similarities to the one in [Kippinge Church](/source/Kippinge_Church). The [Romanesque](/source/Romanesque_architecture) [font](/source/Baptismal_font) has a wide, rounded bowl.[1][4]

## Frescos

Fresco of the wheel of life (c. 1500)

The frescos in the chancel and the nave from the late 15th century are the work of the [Elmelunde Master](/source/Elmelunde_Master)[5] and his workshop. Rediscovered under the [whitewash](/source/Whitewash) in 1877, they depict the [baptism of Jesus](/source/Baptism_of_Jesus), the [suicide of Judas](/source/Judas_Iscariot#Death), the [rich man and the poor man](/source/Rich_man_and_Lazarus) together with the [Fall](/source/Fall_of_man) and the [Expulsion](/source/Expulsion_from_the_Garden_of_Eden). The rich man, kneeling before Christ, wears a long-tailed hood, an article of clothing reserved for the more affluent of the time.[6]

There are also two non-Biblical frescos, one of the wheel of life, the other depicting the churning of butter.[4] The captions around the wheel of life are typical of the Elmelund Master. Three figures of kings are placed around a cartwheel. On the left, the king who is rising says "regnabo" (I will rule), the one at the top, dressed in fine clothes and holding a fine glass of wine, announces "regno" (I rule), the one on the right, his bearded head hanging low, says "regnavi" (I have ruled) while the dead body of the king with folded hands below the wheel is accompanied by a banner stating "sum sine regno sic transit gloria mundi" (I am without a kingdom so transpires the glory of the world).[7]

		- Fresco: the rich man and the poor man

		- Fresco: Judas's death by suicide

		- Fresco: Jesus's baptism

		- Fresco: the Annunciation

## 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 1309–1326. (in Danish) Retrieved 14 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Stewart2009_2-0)** Stewart, Jon Bartley (23 December 2009). [*Kierkegaard and His Danish Contemporaries: Tome II : Theology*](https://books.google.com/books?id=8LYwK-NXXKAC&pg=PA219). Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp. 219–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7546-6873-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7546-6873-2). Retrieved 28 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Christina Rygaard Kristiansen (ed.), "Kirkens historie"](http://www.tingstedkirke.dk/historieside.shtml), Tingsted kirke. (in Danish) Retrieved 22 November 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nk_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nk_4-1) ["Tingsted kirke"](http://www.nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Tingsted_kirke/Tingsted_kirke515.htm), Nordens kirker. (in Danish) Retrieved 22 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Nationalmuseets1943_5-0)** [*Nationalmuseets skrifter: Arkaeologisk-historisk raekke*](https://books.google.com/books?id=jssRAAAAIAAJ). I Kommission hos Gyldendalske Boghandel, Nordisk Forlag. 1943. p. 220. Retrieved 28 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Buried_Norsemen_at_Herjolfsnes:_An_Archaeological_and_Historical_Study_6-0)** [*Buried Norsemen at Herjolfsnes: An Archaeological and Historical Study*](https://books.google.com/books?id=mdodAQAAIAAJ). C. A. Reitzels Forlag. 1924. pp. 175–177. Retrieved 28 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Heidi Pfeiffer & Ove H. Nielsen, "Lolland-Falster – historier i landskabet", 2012, Lolland-Falsters Historiske Samfund, pages 40–41. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-87-91059-12-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-87-91059-12-4).

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°48′49″N 11°54′31″E / 54.81361°N 11.90861°E / 54.81361; 11.90861](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Tingsted_Church&params=54_48_49_N_11_54_31_E_)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tingsted Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tingsted_Church) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tingsted_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.