Fanefjord Church

Fanefjord Church, one of the Danish island of Møn's most famous attractions, is located in an open setting overlooking the Baltic Sea inlet of Fanefjord. Standing majestically on the top of a small hill, the church's red-tiled roof and whitewashed walls can be seen from considerable distances, whatever the direction. Above all, though, it is the interior which is of particular interest in view of the many frescoes dating back to the 13th and 16th centuries.

History

The site itself is of considerable historic interest. A few hundred meters to the south of the church there is a particularly long barrow, Grønsalen, the burial ground of Queen Fane (cf Fanefjord) and her husband Grøn Jæger (or Green Hunter) who lived some 4,000 years ago. The church's original 7 m high nave dates back to the second half of the 13th century. The cross vaults in the nave were added around 1300. In about 1500, the porch and tower were completed and the choir was built around 1660.

In 1825, the church was bought by the Klintholm Estate which maintained ownership for almost 100 years.

It may appear surprising that such a large church was built at a time (1250) when the parish only had about 300 inhabitants. One explanation may be that there was considerable trade through the fjord with the German Hanseatic ports. The traders may well have contributed to the construction, both financially and by helping with the work.

Frescoes

For many generations, Fanefjord's frescoes were hidden under a covering of plaster. After frescoes had been discovered at the end of the 19th century in Møn's Elmelunde Church, those in Fanefjord were painstakingly uncovered from 1932 to 1934 under the guidance of the National Museum.

The earliest frescoes, on the triumphal arch, were painted around 1350. They depict the four evangelists, as well as St Christopher and St George.

The most famous frescoes are however those dating back to about 1500 which cover large areas of the church's ceiling and upper walls. In the so-called Biblia pauperum style, they present many of the most popular stories from the Old and New Testaments. The artist, who can be identified by the emblem he included in many of the fresoces, is known simply as the Elmelunde Master as it was he who also painted the frescoes in Elmelunde Church and indeed those in Keldby Church. The warm colours ranging from dark red and russet to yellow, green, grey and black are distinctive.

Other features

The church contains a number of other interesting features. From the top of the tower, there are excellent views of Møn, the Grønsund Strait and the island of Falster, as well as the southern coast of Zealand. The following also deserve attention:

The choir

The choir, which was renovated in the 17th century in a different, but compatible style, consists of an impressive altarpiece, the original candlesticks and a new altar.

The pulpit

The ornate pulpit is from about 1645 and bears Christian IV's emblem. Among the carved figures are Christ, Jacob, St Peter and one of the apostles.

The organ

A new organ built by Frobenius & Sønner with 10 stops, two keyboards and pedals, was installed in 1998.

External links

* [http://www.fanefjordkirke.dk/index.php?id=7157 History of Fanefjord Church from the parish website (in Danish)] . Retrieved 1 August 2007.
* [http://www.fanefjordsogn.dk/images/lokalhistorier.htm Local History pages of the Fanefjord Sogns Grundejer- & Beboerforening (in Danish)] . Retrieved 30 July 2007.
* [http://www.insula-moenia.dk/elmelunde_mesteren.html Elmelundemesteren fro the Insula Moenia site] . Retrieved 1 August 2007.

And the following

* [http://www.danskskaanskforening.dk/foto/fanefjord2.htm Fresco of the Three Kings from the Dansk Skaansk Forening]
* [http://www.danskskaanskforening.dk/foto/fanefjord.htm Fresco of Mary with the infant Jesus from the Dansk Skaansk Forening]
* [http://www.sognekirke.dk/devils/htm/sf/fanefjrd.htm Fresco of Eve tempting Adam in the Garden of Eden from Synde.dk]
* [http://www.biermann-consult.dk/kirker/fanefjord/7.htm Fanefjord Church: slideshow from Bierman Consult]

Sources

* Pastor Helge Buus: "Fanefjord Kirke", Fanefjord menighedsråd, Askeby, 1978, Fanefjord menighedsråd, 19 p.
* Birgit Als Hansen: "De Mønske Kirker", Møns Turistforening, Stege, 1967, 11 p. (translated 1976 as "The churches of Møn")