De Døves Kirke

In the heart of Copenhagen, De Døves Kirke stands as a testament to a unique history. De Døves Kirke isn’t just any church. It’s a beacon of inclusivity, built for the deaf community in 1904. The architect, Emil Jørgensen, designed this Neo-Romanesque gem. It was the brainchild of Johannes Jørgensen, Denmark’s first deaf priest. He established the first deaf congregation in Europe in 1900, leading to the church’s founding on November 12th of the same year. De Døves Kirke was consecrated on December 18, 1904. The driving forces behind its construction were the Association of Effata, the Workers’ Home for Deaf-Dumb Women, and the Deaf Society of 1866. Interestingly, the master builder, Albert Nicolai Schioldann, had a deaf son and was deeply involved in Copenhagen’s deaf community. He later served on the church’s board. Initially, services were held in sign language. Later, spoken Danish services were added. In 2000, the congregation celebrated a century of existence and published a groundbreaking translation of the Bible into Danish sign language. A new church house followed in 2001. The significance of sign language was further underscored in 2013. Queen Margrethe II attended a service where the Sign Language Bible was inaugurated. Just two years later, Danish sign language was officially recognized as a language, marked by a celebratory service at De Døves Kirke. De Døves Kirke continues to serve as a vital spiritual home for the deaf community. It symbolizes their enduring faith and the power of communication.