Toreby Church

{{Short description|Parish church of Toreby on the Danish island of Lolland}} [[File:Toreby Kirke2.jpg|thumb|Toreby Church]] '''Toreby Church''' is the parish church of [[Toreby]] on the [[Denmark|Danish]] island of [[Lolland]]. It is an unusually large red-brick [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] building, the [[nave]] and [[chancel]] having been extended in the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] period with a [[sacristy]] and lateral [[aisle]]. The tower is late Romanesque. There are [[fresco]]s from c. 1400 in the sacristy. The carved [[pulpit]] (1645) is the work of [[Jørgen Ringnis]].<ref>[http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Kunst_og_kultur/Arkitektur/Danske_kirker_T-T%C3%A5/Toreby_Kirke "Torby Kirke], ''Den Store Danske''. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 27 June 2013.</ref>

==History== Dedicated to [[Michael (archangel)|St Michael]], the church was the property of the Crown in the [[Middle Ages]] and remained so after the [[Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein|Reformation]]. In 1726, it was sold by auction to Chamberlain [[Christian Carl Gabel]] together with the [[Fuglsang Manor|Fuglsang]] and Priorskov estates. The Toreby market was moved to [[Sakskøbing]] in 1550. Later owners of the church include [[Abraham Lehn]] and [[Christopher Georg Wallmoden]]. The latter is buried in the church.<ref name=natmus>[http://danmarkskirker.natmus.dk/uploads/tx_tcchurchsearch/Maribo_1001-1024.pdf Kirsten Weber-Andersen, Otto Norn, Aage Roussell, Gertrud Købke Knudsen, "Tingsted Kirke"], ''Danmarks kirker: Maribo amt, Volume 8'', 1951, Nationalmuseet, pages 1001-1024. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 28 June 2013.</ref>

==Architecture== Built c. 1200, Toreby is one of the largest churches in the area. Built of brick with fieldstone foundations, it consists of a nave, two lateral aisles, a [[chancel]], a sacristy and a tower. The nave and part of the chancel remain from the original Romanesque building. Traces of the old [[apse]], removed in the Gothic period, can still be seen. The tower was constructed in late Gothic times, shortly after the church was built. The sacristy to the north of the chancel was built at the beginning of the 14th century. The aisles were added in the Gothic period, first the one on the northern side, then the one to the south. The Late-Gothic porch has been altered several times.<ref name=nk>[http://www.nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Toreby_kirke/Toreby_kirke.htm "Toreby kirke"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131101041/http://nordenskirker.dk/Tidligere/Toreby_kirke/Toreby_kirke.htm |date=2011-01-31 }}, ''Nordens Kirker''. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 28 June 2013.</ref><ref name=natmus/>

==Interior and fittings== [[File:Nordenskirker Toreby08.jpg|thumb|Interior with Ringnis' pulpit]] The chancel originally had a flat wooden ceiling, the vaulting was added later. Six-ribbed vaults were also added to the nave and the northern aisle. A fresco of a bassoon-playing angel was found on the chancel arch, probably part of a painting of the [[Last Judgment]].<ref name=nk/>

The [[altarpiece]] consists of a painting of the [[Entombment of Christ]], copied from [[Pietro Perugino]]'s original by [[Albert Küchler]] in 1849. The former altarpiece now stands at the west end of the church. The [[pulpit]] (1645) in the [[auricular style]] is the work of woodcarver [[Jørgen Ringnis]]. The north aisle contains a crucifix from c. 1250.<ref name=nk/>

==Frescos== The frescos on the sacristy [[Vault (architecture)|vault]] were discovered in 1904 and restored in 1920. Probably dating from the early 14th century, they depict the Enthroned Christ, two angels, [[John the Baptist]] with the lamb, and the prophets [[Zechariah (Hebrew prophet)|Zechariah]] and [[Jeremiah]]. Traces of other figures can also be seen including Michael fighting the dragon, the [[Judgment of Solomon]] and the [[Binding of Isaac|Sacrifice of Isaac]]. There are also traces of frescos of [[Moses]], including [[Burning bush|Moses and the Burning Bush]].<ref name=natmus/>

==Churchyard== Notable people buried in the churchyard include [[Bodil Neergaard]].

==See also== * [[List of churches on Lolland]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Lolland]] [[Category:Churches in Lolland]] [[Category:Romanesque church buildings]] [[Category:Church frescos in Denmark]] [[Category:Lutheran churches converted from Roman Catholicism]] [[Category:Churches in the Diocese of Lolland–Falster]]