Skovvejskirken

Did you know Skovvejskirken wasn’t originally intended to be a church? It began as a much-needed addition to Ballerup’s story. After World War II, Ballerup Kommune experienced a population boom. The old cemetery at Ballerup Kirke couldn’t keep up. In 1947, the Menighedsråd acquired land by Skovvejen for a new cemetery and crematorium. The crematorium, with its accompanying chapel, opened on March 2, 1968. Just a year later, renovations closed Ballerup Kirke for nearly six months. Services were temporarily moved to the crematorium’s large hall, starting October 5, 1969. This hall, then called Skovvejens Kirkesal, hosted two services every Sunday until Ballerup Kirke reopened. Continued growth in northern Ballerup Sogn solidified the need for a permanent place of worship at Skovvejen. Skovvejskirken was born, though officially, the hall remains a crematorium. The Bishop’s permission has repeatedly renewed its use as a church over the years. Since its transformation, Skovvejskirken has expanded to include confirmation classrooms, a meeting hall, a kitchen, and the cemetery office. Skovvejskirken’s story reminds us that sometimes life takes unexpected turns, transforming even the most practical spaces into places of community and reflection.