Did you know Rosmus Kirke was once dedicated to Our Lady? Its connection to Øm Kloster a powerful Cistercian monastery explains this. Cistercians felt a strong devotion to the Mother of God. Rosmus Kirke boasts a Romanesque nave and choir.
The church is built from chalkstone. This is typical of churches in the Grenaa area. Rosmus Kirke isn’t just a simple structure. It has a nave a choir a west-facing tower and a north-facing porch. The nave and choir date back to the Romanesque period. They’re made of chalkstone blocks with a concealed arcade gallery along the roof.
A tower of rough granite and brick was added later during the late Gothic period. It features vaults an undercroft and a pointed archway leading into the nave. At the same time vaults were incorporated into the nave and choir. The outer walls of the nave were later rebuilt. The original chalkstone blocks were removed. The porch was also constructed at this time.
The choir with its apse was demolished in 1864. A new one with a straight gable was built from red bricks. A noteworthy feature is the altarpiece. It dates from the late 18th century and includes a painting of the Last Supper. Rosmus Kirke houses a Romanesque granite baptismal font decorated with animal figures. There’s also a pulpit from the late 17th century and an organ from 1858. Under the choir there were burials for the owners of Rugård.
The key to Rosmus Kirke can be borrowed. Check the notice board near the church. Interestingly a legend claims monks lived near the church. During renovations in the 1880s a solid foundation of rough stones was uncovered. It was the remains of an older building. Tradition points to this as their dwelling. A supposed walkway once connected the building to the church.
The remains of this walkway might still be visible. Look for a longish mound of rough stones laid in lime near the north choir wall. The last abbot of Øm Kloster Jens Simensen received the Rosmus parish after the monastery’s closure in 1560. He received the rectory and Rugård. Rugård’s history is fascinating. It has changed hands numerous times over the centuries. Its owners included powerful figures. Some stories surround it with tales of witchcraft and intrigue. Rosmus Kirke stands as a silent witness to the passage of time. Its stones whisper tales of faith devotion and the changing fortunes of a rural parish.