Store Magleby Kirke

High on Amager’s highest point, Store Magleby Kirke stands as a beacon. It watches over the village. This isn’t your typical Danish country church. Its unique character is amplified by inscriptions in a peculiar language. These inscriptions adorn both the interior and exterior of Store Magleby Kirke. They speak of the Dutch settlers who arrived around 1521. King Christian II granted them not only land but also the church itself. The farmers held ownership of Store Magleby Kirke and its graveyard until 1937. Imagine services conducted in a blend of Dutch, German, and Danish. This unique language filled the church until 1735. Then, sermons alternated between Danish and Dutch until 1811. Finally, Danish became the sole language. The present structure of Store Magleby Kirke largely dates back to a significant renovation in 1611. It seems the “new” church drew inspiration from the Netherlands. A small sandstone plaque bearing King Christian IV’s name, located on the north wall, commemorates this event. Store Magleby Kirke underwent a transformation in 1731. The walls were lowered. The windows acquired their current shape. Another plaque, this one placed on the east gable above the priest’s door, honors this renovation. Both plaques are inscribed in Dutch. Tucked between the spire and the wind vane of Store Magleby Kirke is a copper sphere. Inside, documents chronicle key events in the church and parish’s history. It’s a miniature historical archive. It sits high above the village. The church’s interior reflects a major restoration from the 1850s. The old fixtures were replaced with neo-Gothic woodwork. The current altarpiece, painted by Thomas Kluge, was added in 2011 for the church’s 400th anniversary. It’s a three-paneled piece, fitting seamlessly into the neo-Gothic frame. The graveyard at Store Magleby Kirke is a living history book. Generations of Dutch families rest here. Their gravestones, etched with names like Crilles, Pieter, Tønnes, Agth, Marchen, and Leudo, and surnames like Jansen, Dirchsen, Zibrandtsen, and Corneliussen, whisper tales of the parish’s unique past.