Doesn’t Margrethekirken seem to be a beacon of community? Margrethekirken is one of Copenhagen’s newer churches. It is located near Folehaven in Valby. Margrethekirken and Johannes Døbers Kirke form Valby Söndre Sogn. They are part of the Valby-Vanløse provsti.
Margrethekirken replaced a temporary church from 1964. Architects Vilhelm Wohlert and Rolf Graae designed it. Princess Margrethe laid Margrethekirken’s foundation stone on November 21, 1968. The current Margrethekirken was inaugurated on December 6, 1970.
Margrethe Sogn was created on April 1, 1965. It was separated from Vigerslev Sogn. The first church was a temporary one designed by Holger Jensen. That church was dedicated on September 6, 1964.
Johanne Andersen was Margrethe Sogn’s first pastor. She was also Denmark’s first female pastor. Johanne Andersen actively collected funds to build the current Margrethekirken. She raised 700,000 kr by collecting and selling 5 million postcards. The construction cost 2,896,000 kr. This made loans and state subsidies possible.
Inside Margrethekirken, the hexagonal space seats 185 people. It can expand to accommodate 395. Adjacent rooms include the sacristan’s office and a bridal room. There is also a parish hall, a confirmation room, an entrance hall, and a pastor’s office.
Margrethekirken’s organ is a Frobenius organ. It has 18 stops, 1,066 pipes, and 3 manuals. The church features an altar tapestry. It symbolizes the bread and wine of Holy Communion.
The freestanding bell tower includes a chapel at the base. Six ringing bells hang at the top. A carillon with 38 bells is also present. The organist can play the carillon electronically or manually. It can be played from the tower or the choir room in Margrethekirken.
Margrethekirken is located between Kirsebærhaven and Frugthaven in Valby’s southwest area. Johanne Andersen worked at Margrethekirken until 1975. Then she moved back to her home region of Falster. Today Margrethekirken bustles with daily activities. Many volunteers support its mission.