Østerlars Church

Østerlars Church

Østerlars Church is a historical building located 5 km south of Gudhjem on the Danish island of Bornholm. It is the largest and oldest of the island's four round churches. Built in about 1160, it was dedicated to St. Lawrence.^[1] It consists of an apse, an oval chancel, a large round nave and has three storeys. There is evidence the church was once fortified, the top storey serving as an open shooting gallery.^[2]

Origin of name

The church is dedicated to St. Laurentius (St. Lawrence). The Danish equivalent, Lars, was also the church's original name in the Middle Ages but around 1600, the prefex øster- (eastern) was added to avoid confusion with nearby Ny-Lars.^[2]

History and architecture

Østerlars: Inside the central column

The building is one of Denmark's oldest Romanesque churches. On the basis of coins dated 1157 found in the floor, the date of construction was probably around 1160. The fieldstone wall stands on foundations of Bornholm limestone. The double-arched apse bears similarities to that in Lund Cathedral. The round nave has an external diameter of 16 meters. In its centre there is a large round hollow column, six meters wide. An opening, known as the oven, leads into a small room inside the column.^[3][4]

Originally there were small Romanesque windows but these were enlarged after the Reformation. During the 16th century, a number of pillars were added to support the outer wall. The conical roof was replaced in the 17th century. The porch is from 1870.^[1]

The bell tower stands separately from the church in the churchyard, and the bell tower was the original entrance and gate tower. There are two runestones, one inside the portch (c. 1100) and another outside (c.1070).^[1]

Decorations and furnishings

Østerlars: Central column with frescos

Østerlars: Frescos

The church's central column is decorated with frescos or kalkmalerier from 1350 showing biblical scenes from the Annunciation through to the Passion, ending with Day of Judgment where Jesus judges mankind. Many of the naked figures are sent to hell, symbolized by a huge dragon. They were probably painted some 140 years after the church was built.^[3][5]

The frescos, which had been hidden with limewash since the Reformation, were uncovered in 1882. They were first restored by Jacob Kornerup in 1889, then in 1960 by G.M. Lind. In 2005, the National Museum of Denmark carried out further restoration work.^[1]

The pulpit is from 1595. The carved altarpiece is from c. 1600.^[1]

Connection with the Templars

Erling Haagensen, co-author of The Templars' Secret Island, believes there is a connection between the round churches of Bornholm and the Knights Templar. He believes there are similarities between the geometrical precision of the churches' locations and those of churches in Rennes-le-Château in France. He concludes that Østerlars, and the other round churches, could have been used as supply stores for the crusades.^[6]

Bornholm's other round churches

The other round churches on Bornholm are Nyker, Nylars and Olsker. They are all architecturally impressive buildings with a number of common features.^[7]

See also

• Architecture of Denmark
• Church frescos in Denmark
• Rotunda (architecture)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Østerlars kirke. From Nordens kirker. In Danish. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
2. ^ ^{a b} Østerlars kirke. From NaturBornholm. In Danish. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
3. ^ ^{a b} Østerlars Kirke from Home of our Fathers. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
4. ^ Erik Skov, "Østerlars Kirke", Faglig Læsning, Gyldendal 1968. (Danish)
5. ^ Østerlars Rundkirke. From conception.jones.dk. In Danish. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
6. ^ The Templars and Bornholm. From TemplarHistory.com. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
7. ^ Bornholm and its round churches. Retrieved 6 December 2009.

Coordinates: 55°10′17″N 14°57′42″E / 55.1714°N 14.9617°E / 55.1714; 14.9617