St. Bendt's Church, Ringsted
The Evangelical Lutheran St. Bendts Church ( Benedict's Church; Danish Sankt Bendts Kirke ) in Ringsted, Zealand counts, historically and architecturally the most important church buildings in Denmark. Built in 1170 as a Benedictine abbey church of Ringsted Romanesque basilica was 1182-1341 grave laying of the kings of Denmark. It is the oldest surviving brick church in Scandinavia.
History
Predecessor of today's basilica was a pre-Romanesque travertine church, which was built around 1080 and had replaced a wooden church from the time of the Christianization of Denmark. In 1131 Knut Laward was murdered in the context of disputes about the succession near Ringsted and buried in the church Ringsteder. After his son Waldemar had established itself as the sole ruler, this 1169 in Rome reached the canonization of his father, at whose grave numerous miracles should have happened. At the same time, the construction of large-scale high Romanesque church began. It was financed mainly with the offerings of the pilgrims that homed soon in large numbers. In the still unfinished church, at his father's grave canonized, Waldemar let his son Knut crowned by Archbishop Eskil his successor.
The new church formed the northern wing of a nearly square monastery, which was probably built at the same time. In the Gothic period the abbey church received new vault.
The Benedictine convent existed until the introduction of the Reformation in Denmark. 1571 St. Bendt Lutheran parish church.
1806 broke into the monastery from a fire that destroyed the convent building. The church was damaged especially on the west façade, which was rebuilt in the Empire style. At the same time the outer walls were plastered.
From 1899 to 1910, the Danish architect Hermann Baagøe Storck carried out extensive restoration work, which were based on the original forms. The Romanesque apse windows were restored, exposed the brick masonry again and the central tower provided with a pyramidal roof.
Architecture
St. Bendt is a three-aisled basilica on cross floor plan. The zweijochige chorus concludes with a round apse. At the transepts rectangular chapels are attached with small Rundapsiden on the east side two. The crossing tower is square. Overall, the shape is reminiscent of Lombard architecture models which were probably mediated by Benedictine relationships.
Equipment
Above the backsteinsichtigen columns and arches are large ornamental and figural painted wall panels. The frescoes are mainly from the Romanesque and Gothic periods, and make reference to deeds and struggles of kings. Supplements were added in the Romanesque Revival restoration.
The Romanesque sandstone baptismal font dates back to 1150. The eichenhölzerne choir stalls from 1420 is similar to that in Roskilde Cathedral. Altar and pulpit are works of the 17th century.
Pulpit
Altar
Tombs of the Kings
The Ringsteder Church has primarily by the grave of Waldemar I. " the Great " national importance for Denmark. From 1182 to 1341, all Danish kings and queens were buried here. Only in Roskilde Cathedral, there are more Danish royal tombs.
The main buried in St. Bendt persons are:
- Knut Laward († 1131 )
- Valdemar the Great († 1182 )
- Knut VI. († 1202)
- Dagmar of Bohemia († 1212 )
- Rikissa of Denmark ( † 1220 )
- Berengaria of Portugal ( † 1221 )
- Waldemar II († 1241 )
- Erich IV († 1250)
- Agnes of Brandenburg ( † 1304)
- Erich VI. († 1319 )
- Birger of Sweden († 1321 )
- Martha ( Margrethe ) of Denmark ( † 1341 )
- Blanche of Namur († 1363)