Around 1200, the people of Ballerup began building something special. That special something is Ballerup Kirke. Originally, Ballerup Kirke was known as Sct. Jacobs Kirke. It was dedicated to Saint Jacob.
Ballerup Kirke is not just one thing. It is a collection of stories and changes spanning centuries. The original church had a Romanesque ship and chancel. These were built with fieldstones. Around 1525 a tower was added. Then in 1885 a side aisle was added to the north. This also included a sacristy.
Step inside Ballerup Kirke. You will find more than just stone and mortar. The church’s interior walls are bright with whitewash. Look up. The vaulted ceilings have beautiful frescoes. These paintings add character to Ballerup Kirke.
Take a closer look at the artwork. The oldest paintings are from 1250. These are in the chancel arch. They show Cain and Abel’s sacrifice. Other paintings date from 1430 to 1450. They are likely by the same artist. The artist is known for painting personal faces and fashionable clothes.
The altar is simple. It is adorned with an antependium. This was woven in 1981 by Vibeke Klint. The altar candlesticks are from around 1500. The altar silver is from 1801. These are only displayed during services.
Ballerup Kirke has seen many changes to its altar. In the late 1500s a new altarpiece was installed. It was a triptych with Bible quotes. Around 1848 it was removed. One of its panels is now in the National Museum. It was found being used as a partition in a pigsty.
A painting by Albert Küchler replaced it in 1848. It depicted Christ’s resurrection. However it covered too many frescoes. It was moved. The altar now features a crucifix.
The east window of the chancel once held a stained-glass mosaic. Its colors clashed with the frescoes. The window was bricked up again. The mosaic was moved to a window in the side aisle. Professor Albert Jensen designed the mosaic. Overgaard created it. It represents the three major church holidays. These are Christmas Easter and Pentecost.
In 2003 a stone pane was installed behind the altar. Dorte Dahlin created it. It consists of light pink rose quartz. Thin slices of the stone are leaded together. Whitish crystal breaks the light in soft shades.
The baptismal font is the oldest item in Ballerup Kirke. It dates back to when the church was built. The bowl is made of Scanian sandstone. It features palmettes resembling palm fronds. These palmettes are used as the parish logo.
The pulpit dates from the early 1600s. The panels have inscriptions from the late 1800s. Originally they likely had paintings of the four evangelists. The hexagonal canopy also dates from the early 1600s. A Holy Spirit dove hangs in the center.
The church organ dates from 1969. It has 18 voices. Bruhns orgelbyggeri built it. Poul Gerhard Andersen designed it.
Near the organ hangs a model ship of the school ship Georg Stage. Ane and Jen Larsen donated it in 1959. It is in memory of their son Lars Hansen Larsen. He died in a shooting accident in Mallorca in 1931.
Ballerup Kirke also has several memorials. There are old tombstones in the floor. A memorial plaque hangs near the chancel arch. It is for pastor Holger Halling and his wife who died in 1799.
Two bell hang in the tower. The small one is from 1643. The large one is from 1837. The clockwork for the tower clock is from 1750. It is located in the room under the belfry.
Ballerup Kirke stands as a testament. It shows faith art and history. It is a place of worship and a museum. It welcomes all to experience its rich heritage.