Nuuk Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Nuuk Cathedral or Church of Our Saviour is a wooden lutheran cathedral
in the Old Nuuk
neighborhood of Nuuk
, the capital of Greenland
. It was established in 1849. The red building with its' spire is a prominent site on the landscape. During National Day celebrations large crowds usually gather around the church.
on April 6th, 1849. It was paid for in full by Karen Oersted's Fund. When it was consecrated it became the church of Nuuk congregation, replacing the responsibilities of many older Nuuk churches, the oldest of which was from 1758.
Until May 6th 1993 the Cathedral of Copenhagen was also the Cathedral of Greenland, but when the Law of Greenland's Church and School became effective on May 6th 1993, the church officially became the Cathedral of Greenland. The first bishop
of Greenland in 616 years was Kristian Mørk who was ordained in 1994, the previous bishop of Greenland was Álfur Last-Bishop in 1378. Mørk vacated the seat the next year and 39-year-old Greenland native Sofie Petersen
became bishop of Greenland. Petersen is the second female bishop in Denmark.
The annex building next to the cathedral is the actual seat of the bishop of Greenland, the cathedral itself does not hold the seat.
for soapstone and talc. Later the building was externally paneled with red wood panels. In conjunction with the outside paneling the interior was paneled as well, the inside panels are painted white. The wooden church tower is a later add-on, it was erected in 1928. The church got electric power in 1949. In 2008 the tower clock underwent a 14-day restoration and the mechanical movement
was replaced by a digital one.
The two big brass candelabras at the altar are a gift from the Church of Norway
.
The organ of the church is a 11-rank 1970 Marcussen & Søn.
is located on the hill above the church. The statue is a 1921 copy of the statue in front of the Marble Church in Copenhagen. In front of the cathedral is a bronze bust of the celebrated organist
Jonathan Petersen
. Peterson was a well-known writer of psalms, as well as a gifted organist.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in the Old Nuuk
Old Nuuk
Old Nuuk is a neighborhood of Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. It is part of the Nuuk Centrum district, located in the southwestern part of the town, facing the Nuup Kangerlua fjord...
neighborhood of Nuuk
Nuuk
Nuuk, is the capital of Greenland, the northernmost capital in North America and the largest city in Greenland. Located in the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, the city lies on the eastern shore of the Labrador Sea and on the west coast of Sermersooq. Nuuk is the largest cultural and economic center in...
, the capital of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. It was established in 1849. The red building with its' spire is a prominent site on the landscape. During National Day celebrations large crowds usually gather around the church.
History
The church was built from 1848 to 1849, and was consecratedConsecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on April 6th, 1849. It was paid for in full by Karen Oersted's Fund. When it was consecrated it became the church of Nuuk congregation, replacing the responsibilities of many older Nuuk churches, the oldest of which was from 1758.
Until May 6th 1993 the Cathedral of Copenhagen was also the Cathedral of Greenland, but when the Law of Greenland's Church and School became effective on May 6th 1993, the church officially became the Cathedral of Greenland. The first bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Greenland in 616 years was Kristian Mørk who was ordained in 1994, the previous bishop of Greenland was Álfur Last-Bishop in 1378. Mørk vacated the seat the next year and 39-year-old Greenland native Sofie Petersen
Sofie Petersen
Sofie Petersen is the Lutheran bishop of Greenland.She was born on November 23, 1955 in Maniitsoq, Greenland. She studied theology and graduated from the University of Copenhagen in 1986. On May 28, 1995, at the age of 39, Petersen was ordained as the Bishop of Greenland in the Evangelical...
became bishop of Greenland. Petersen is the second female bishop in Denmark.
The annex building next to the cathedral is the actual seat of the bishop of Greenland, the cathedral itself does not hold the seat.
Construction
Originally the church was constructed with so called half timbering, a timber framingTimber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
for soapstone and talc. Later the building was externally paneled with red wood panels. In conjunction with the outside paneling the interior was paneled as well, the inside panels are painted white. The wooden church tower is a later add-on, it was erected in 1928. The church got electric power in 1949. In 2008 the tower clock underwent a 14-day restoration and the mechanical movement
Movement (clockwork)
In horology, a movement is the internal mechanism of a clock or watch, as opposed to the case, which encloses and protects the movement, and the face which displays the time. The term originated with mechanical timepieces, whose movements are made of many moving parts...
was replaced by a digital one.
The two big brass candelabras at the altar are a gift from the Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
.
The organ of the church is a 11-rank 1970 Marcussen & Søn.
Landmarks
The Statue of Hans EgedeStatue of Hans Egede
The Statue of Hans Egede is a prominent monument in Nuuk, Greenland. It commemorates the Dano-Norwegian Lutheran missionary Hans Egede who founded Nuuk in 1728. The statue lies on a hill near the shore above Nuuk Cathedral in the historical Old Nuuk area of the city....
is located on the hill above the church. The statue is a 1921 copy of the statue in front of the Marble Church in Copenhagen. In front of the cathedral is a bronze bust of the celebrated organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
Jonathan Petersen
Jonathan Petersen
Jonathan Petersen was a Greenlandic songwriter. He composed the music to the national anthem of Greenland, Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit . The lyrics were written by the Greenlandic pastor Henrik Lund, and the song was adopted as the national anthem in 1916.-References:...
. Peterson was a well-known writer of psalms, as well as a gifted organist.