Ever noticed how some buildings whisper stories of the past? Tirstrup Kirke definitely does. This church stands as a testament to faith and history.
Tirstrup Kirke is located in Tirstrup Sogn. It lies in Djurs Sønder Herred. That is about 19 kilometers southwest of Grenaa.
Originally a Romanesque church stood here. It likely featured a traditional design. Think nave and chancel built with granite blocks. The church’s destiny changed in 1465. Otte Nielsen Rosenkrantz decided to build a new church. He was the squire of Bjørnholm estate. Today it is known as Høgholm. Rosenkrantz demolished the old church. He erected a new one from the ground up.
The design of Tirstrup Kirke is similar to those in Bregnet and Marie Magdalene. Rosenkrantz also erected those churches. Monk stone is the main building material here. The nave has five vaulted bays. To the east is a three-sided finish. The tower to the west is a so-called “stilted tower”. It features an opening in the west wall. The tower may be slightly younger than the nave. A lead-covered pyramid roof tops the tower.
On the north side is an original sacristy. A burial chapel exists on the south side. It dates back to approximately 1535. Henrik Nielsen Rosenkrantz ordered its construction. He was Otte Nielsen’s great-grandson. He also served as a Gotland lensmand. Both the sacristy and chapel have stepped gables. A porch once stood on the church’s north side. It was replaced in the late 1700s. Traces of the older church remain. Two hewn window lintels are in the sacristy. The chancel arch’s two corbels serve as sills. They are under the chancel wall’s buttresses.
Tirstrup Kirke probably never had many murals. Only the visible coats of arms remain. These are on the nave’s two lowest vaulting panels. They belong to Jens Iversen Lange. He was the Bishop of Aarhus. Also, they represent the church’s founders. That is the couple Otte Nielsen Rosenkrantz and Else Krognos.
The altarpiece in Tirstrup is quite magnificent. It dates back to the late Middle Ages. Experts believe Claus Berg’s workshop in Odense created it around 1522. The central panel depicts the Trinity. The Latin inscription reads “Sancta Trinitas unus Deus misere nobis”. That translates to “Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us”. John the Baptist with the Lamb of God appears on the wings. Mary Magdalene with the ointment jar is also shown. Birgitte Thott gifted the altarpiece. It was for her husband Niels Eriksen Rosenkrantz and daughter Karine. The couple’s coats of arms are on the predella.
The communion rail dates from 1700. It features the coats of arms of the Krag and Høg families. At this time Helle Trolle owned Høgholm. She was Iver Juul Høg’s widow. She was also Palle Krag’s second wife.
The pulpit is possibly the oldest in the country. Crafted in Gotland limestone, it likely dates to the 1300s. The baptismal font is also Gotland limestone. It is the so-called cone-stub type. The baptismal dish features the Juul and Parsberg families’ coats of arms. A late medieval chancel arch crucifix from the 1400s hangs on the north wall.
A gilded altar crucifix hangs in the chancel. It is a modern copy from 1967. Tirstrup Kirke once housed a national treasure. It was an early medieval crucifix with gilded copper plates. Dating from about 1150-1200. For many years, it was stored at the National Museum. The church received a faithful copy in 1967. It marked the church’s 500th anniversary.
Tirstrup Kirke’s connection to the old Bjørnholm reflects in its memorials. Look for the gravestones and epitaphs inside. A gravestone commemorates Niels Eriksen Rosenkrantz, Birgitte Thott, and their daughter Karine. It is in the walled-up north door of the nave. Originally, Niels Eriksen was buried in Randers Gråbrødre Church. Birgitte was buried in Skjern Church west of Randers. When the Gråbrødreklostret was demolished, their son moved their remains to Tirstrup. They now lie buried before the altar.
Another gravestone with figures is on the chancel’s south wall. It commemorates Just Høg and his wife Anne Rantzau. An epitaph hangs on the chancel’s north wall. It is for pastor Ole Christiansen Nørup, his wife, and their five children. He served as pastor from 1660-72. Until the 1880s, five round memorial plaques hung in the burial chapel. They were made on Gotland in 1535. It was for lensmand Henrik Nielsen Rosenkrantz. The plaques deteriorated and were discarded. The Rosenkrantz family of Rosenholm saved them. Today, one plaque remains there. The others are at the Frederiksborg Museum.
So, as you stand before Tirstrup Kirke. Remember the families. Recall the craftsmanship. Feel the weight of history.