“Imagine a bishop’s hat resting gracefully on a hilltop.” That’s the vision architect Tyge Hvass had for Sorgenfri Kirke.
Hello everyone. Welcome to Sorgenfri Kirke. Today, we will explore this unique church together. It stands in the Sorgenfri neighborhood of Virum.
Sorgenfri Kirke offers a view of Lyngby Åmose and Lyngby Lake. The church was inaugurated in 1966. Its construction features yellow brick. The five-sided church room has yellow brick walls. Even the baptismal font and ceiling decorations share this pentagonal theme.
The Sorgenfri Parish Council commissioned the church. Jørgen Nielsen A/S handled the engineering work. Hvass envisioned Sorgenfri Kirke as a large white bishop’s hat. It would sit atop the hill. It would overlook Lyngby Åmose and Lyngby Lake. Sadly, funds ran short. The original vision remains unfinished. Today, the parish has set aside completing Hvass’s full vision. They cite technical and economic reasons.
However, the church still boasts remarkable features. Arne Haugen Sørensen created the altarpiece in 2005. It depicts Jesus in the upper right corner. It also shows the twelve disciples reacting to the fateful evening.
Jens Urup designed the seven mosaic windows. Urup’s windows represent a calendar. They highlight holidays throughout the church year.
Let’s examine them closely. The first represents Advent. Warm and bright colors evoke four flames. One flame symbolizes each Sunday of Advent. The second window signifies Christmas. A large Bethlehem star shines against a blue-black night sky. The third is for Lent. Four large figures run down the window’s center. They remind us of the forty weekdays between Lent and Easter. The fifth depicts Pentecost. Twelve flames fill the window. Each flame symbolizes one of the twelve disciples. The sixth is for Trinitatis. This window celebrates midsummer’s bounty. The seventh is Allerhelgen. The design shows a graveyard. It excludes the dark colors of death. Instead, green grass, yellow flowers, and three rivers from creation appear.
Also inside Sorgenfri Kirke is the Frobenius organ. It was installed in 1989. It features forty voices and four transmissions. The organ includes three manuals. These are the main work, swell work, and back positive. It also includes a pedal. The organ’s design draws inspiration from the German Baroque style.
Sorgenfri Kirke is a place of active church life. Many concerts occur here. The parish hall hosts many activities. Juul and Frost Architects designed the new extension. It connects to the existing parish hall. The parish hall is next to the church near Kirkepladsen. The new parish hall was inaugurated in 2001. The new parish hall has a deconstructivist style. It features slight rotations relative to right angles. This is evident in both elevation and plan.
So, as you stand here, remember the layers of artistry and vision embedded in Sorgenfri Kirke. From its unique architecture to its vibrant mosaics and active community life, it’s a testament to faith and creativity. Thank you for joining me on this brief tour.