Church of Our Saviour (Qaqortoq)

Church of Our Savior
60°43′06″N 46°02′25″W / 60.71833°N 46.04028°W / 60.71833; -46.04028Coordinates: 60°43′06″N 46°02′25″W / 60.71833°N 46.04028°W / 60.71833; -46.04028
Location	Qaqortoq
Country	Greenland,  Denmark
History
Founded	1832

The Church of Our Savior (Danish Vor Freslers Kirke) is a wooden lutheran church in Qaqortoq, the largest town in southern Greenland. It was established in 1832^[1]. The red church is part of the old, colonial harbour district of the town.

History

The church was built from 1832, and was commissioned and built by the city of Drammen in Norway and Danish missionaries. It was consecrated the same year. The church has been refurbished and rebuilt several times since. Until the newer Gertrud Rasch's Church was built in 1973, it was the only church serving the Qaqortoq congregation.

The church housed a library at the second floor until the 1940s^[2].

Interior

The ceiling ship is a model of the royal trade ship Hvalfisken, which was in service for almost a century, starting in 1804. The church also holds the commemorative wreath and the lifebuoy for M/S Hans Hedtoft, which sank south of Cape Farewell on her maiden voyage on January 30, 1959. The buoy was found on Iceland and is the only wreckage found of the ship.

The organ of the church is a 4 stop, foot pumped, Marcussen Organ from 1930^[3].

Landmarks

Outside the church is a memorial stele for the missionary Hans Egede and his wife Gertrud Rask^[4].

References

1. ^ "Things to Do in Qaqortoq, Greenland". Famous Wonders. http://famouswonders.com/qaqortoq/. Retrieved April 6, 2011. 
2. ^ "About Qaqortoq" (in Danish) (HTML). http://www.brilleleif.dk/Om_BrilleLeif/Qaqortoq/qaqortoq.html. Retrieved 06-04-2011. 
3. ^ Randall Harlow. "Pipe Organs of Greenland" (in English) (HTML). http://www.esm.rochester.edu/organ/Greenland/Town_Pages/qaqortoq.html. Retrieved 06-04-2011. 
4. ^ "Installation i Qaqortoq" (in English) (HTML). http://www.istidende.dk/qaqortoq.htm. Retrieved 06-04-2011.