In Denmark, the predominant religion is Lutheranism, and the character of the Danes and their architecture is largely determined by their religion. Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig, a Danish priest, philosopher and writer, greatly influenced the formation of their national character. He has many merits, but the most important was the "people's universities" he founded - free schools for adults. Thanks to them, the level of education of the population has dramatically increased, and Denmark itself has become an example in this area for the rest of Europe for many years.
The Danes are grateful people, and it was decided to erect a monument to Grundtvig. A competition was announced, where the architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint unexpectedly presented the project of the memorial church. There were only enough funds for a monument, but people liked the church very much. The heart of the northern people won the mind, the money was collected, and on the anniversary of the birth of Grundtvig, on September 8, 1921, the first stone of the future building was laid.
However, reason was not completely defeated: some benefit was nevertheless derived from the construction of the church. It was decided to build it in Bispebjerg: this area of Copenhagen in 1921 was an unpopular sparsely populated suburb. Around the church, it was decided to build comfortable, but inexpensive yellow brick houses for workers, thus forming the center of a new urban area, and with interesting architecture to attract residents here.
The ideas reflected in the architecture of the church, the philosophy of Grundtvig and the entire Danish people make up a single whole. The church, like the houses around it, was built of yellow bricks - the most common and uncomplicated building material, but it reaches an enormous height. Grundtvig said that the self-awareness of the "small people" must be great so that they can reach heights in their development.
Completed in 1940, the church still amazes with its laconic beauty. Seeing this building, you understand that here it is - Scandinavia, here is its soul and heart - in this church of simple yellow brick in a still working and sparsely populated area. Of course, in Copenhagen it is a must to see modern Danish architecture - it is really masterful - but to understand the history of Denmark, you need to visit Bispebjerg and go to the Grundtvig church.
Danish architectural and historical publications attribute the style of this monument to the national medieval rural architecture, seeing in it a combination of several famous churches with the addition of Gothic elements. But sometimes this building is ranked as expressionism. In my opinion, both options have a right to exist: it’s just, perhaps, the "Danish version" deciphers the concept of Scandinavian expressionism in more detail.
The Grundtvig Church certainly impresses with its size, which, by the way, is equal to the size of the Copenhagen Cathedral: the benches in both buildings are designed for 1,440 believers. The height of the western tower is 49 meters, and the vaults reach 22 meters. The church was built entirely of 30,000 yellow bricks, and in some parts it has been specially treated and polished to reflect the light beautifully. Compositionally, the temple is divided into three parts with a “body” in the center, a crypt under it and a western tower, from which one can supposedly see cathedrals in Roskilde and Lund, where Absalon, a distant relative of Grundtvig, was a bishop.
In the interior, seven branched candlesticks on the altar repeat the shape of candlesticks in other churches by architect Jensen-Klint: Vodskov in Alborg, Anna Kirk in Copenhagen, churches in Gedser and Fredens in Odense. The two large pewter candlesticks on the altar were designed and manufactured by Jensen-Klint's son Kaare Klint; he also made an excerpt of the Crucifixion, and executed it by Helle Bentsen, his daughter.
I was in this church with a famous Danish architect, who at first did not want to go there: he said that it was far away - 20 minutes by car from the center of Copenhagen. He had never been there before - for the same reason of the "considerable" distance. We went there solely because of my enthusiasm. But when we arrived at the church, a miracle happened: in total, we spent an hour there, running around it with burning eyes. This building of incredible beauty, with many small details that you want to consider for a long time, stands on a picturesque hill, with yellow brick houses nearby. There was a slight Oxford feeling and a big surprise effect.
Therefore, the next time you go to Denmark to look at the buildings of BIG, 3XN, Henning Larsen Architects, C. F. Moller and other modern architects, be sure to take the time to the church of Grundtvig: it is there that you can finally understand who they are - these Danes.
