Imagine Ordrup in the late 1870s. A surge of construction buzzed as workers hurried to complete a grand new church. This is Ordrup Kirke. It stands as a testament to both faith and architectural ambition. Ordrup Kirke wasn’t just any church. It was built in haste. It was intended as a competitor to Polly Berling’s Catholic Skt. Andreas Kirke.
Ordrup Kirke’s story begins with its construction from 1876 to 1878. The architect Hans J. Holm designed it. He chose the former Vase or Egehøj as its location. Holm gave it two monumental west towers. These towers exemplify historicism’s interpretation of the Romanesque style.
The church’s placement atop Vasehøj, also known as Egehøj, is significant. From 1876 until 1891, Ordrup Kirke was a chapel. It belonged to Gentofte Kirke. In 1891, Ordrup became an independent parish. Holm, who lived in Ordrup until his death, designed the church to resemble old Romanesque churches. The two slender towers with pointed spires are characteristic.
Inside Ordrup Kirke, the apsis vault captures attention. It features the Tree of Life. It springs from the cross. The Holy Spirit dove, the Lamb of God and the Old Testament’s thirsting deer are also depicted. The apsis windows installed in 1969 display signs in sun, moon, and stars. Sven Havsteen-Mikkelsen created them. Thick red and yellow glass evokes a warm atmosphere. It serves as a backdrop for the altar. The altar is crafted from Fakse marble. Christian IX gifted the altar and communion rail. His daughters Alexandra, Dagmar, and Thyra donated the altar candlesticks.
The baptismal font made of burnt clay dates back to 1876. The crucifixion in the window above it, created by H.G. Skovgaard in 1939, was originally an apsis window. On the choir wall, a painting by Carl Bloch from 1880 depicts the thorn-crowned Savior.
The organ, built by Carsten Lund in 1991, has 33 voices across three manuals. Rolf Graa designed its facade. In 2020, the church underwent a major renovation. The copper and slate roofs were replaced.
Ordrup Kirke stands not only as a place of worship. It embodies a unique chapter in Ordrup’s history. Its hasty construction, artistic details, and royal connections create a rich and fascinating story.