Sæby Church, Strandgade 5A, 9300 Sæby
History
A small church becomes larger
Approximately 1450 the church, named St. Mary's Church, was built as an ordinary parish church, but in 1462 Pope Pius II gave his permission for the establishment of a Carmelite monastrery in Sæby.
The Bishop of Børglum was among those who particularly engaged in his work for the foundation of the monastery.
The Carmelite friars (White friars) belong to a beggar order and their patron saint is St. Mary, the Holy Virgin.
On the north side of the church - approximately opposite the pulpit (prædikestolen) - we see a small remnant of the wall which was the original eastern end of the nave. The nave was prolonged and a new choir was built.
The whole building project was finished in 1520, but already in 1536 the reformation came to Denmark and the monastery was closed down. The friars left, but the prior became the first Lutheran vicar in Sæby.
The leaning Choir
The church choir leans to one side interpreting Jesus' head on the crucifix. Follow the line in the floor.
The Altarpiece
The legend has is that the altarpiece was thrown overboard from a ship in distress as a gift to the church at Sæby and that it was found on the beach by a blind man.
This is hardly the case. More likely a donation from the two bishops at Børglum as their coat of arms is paintet on the panels.
The baptismal fonts
There are 2 fonts, but only one is used. It dates back til 1645, it's carved in wood and is provided with a baptismal canopy. The Dove symbolises the Holy Spirit.
The granite font in the transept is not in use.
The pulpit
Both the pulpit and the caonpy were carved during the early Renaissance around 1577.
The confessionals
From approx. 1700. The compulsory confessions was abolished by the Reformation, bur for a long time the use of confessionals continued. Even today it is possible, but not in on of the confessionals.
The monks' stalls
In the choir is still found 20 of the original 32 monks' stalls. The seats can be tilted and the perches of mercy can be used to rest upon while standing.
The carvings of names and drawings of ships is not the work of the friars, but the boys from grammar school, who used the seats in a period frao 1550 til 1739.
The choir can be seperated from the nave to avoid letting the ordinary churchgoers se fully what went on in the choir.
The oldest fresco
Show teh Annunciation, Joseph and Marye med the new born baby and the wise men worshipping Jesus.
The fresco concerning the parents of the virgin Mary
Joachim and Anne arrivin at the Tempel to sacrifice. The High-priest rejects them as the still, after 20 years of marriage, are childless and thus not worthy to sacrifice in the tempel.
Joachim and Anne go separate ways to pray to God and are given the answer that they shall become parants, and meet each other ind the Golden Gateway of Jerusalem.
The fresco concerning the final judgement
The fresco of teh western rib vault of the choir take their starting point in a depiction of the Final Judgement.
Epitaphs and gravestones
Scattered thorughout the church are a numer of epitaphs and gravestones in memory of those who contributed to til church - local mayors, bishops, and former vicars
The model ship
Probably a model of the ship "Trekroner" (Three Crowns). The ships sides have different colours. When in battle as the ship turned about, it suddenly looked as if there were twice as many ships. Maybe it worked?
Facts
Built: Late 15th century
See also Sæby Kirke homepage Aalborg Stift
EN: Transept
DK: Tværskib
EN: Rosary
DK: Rosenkrans
EN: Annunciation
DK: Maria Bebudelse
Relations
Stygge Krumpen
Niels Styggesen Rosenkrants
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