Our Lady's Priory, Aarhus
Encyclopedia
Our Lady's Priory, Aarhus was an early Dominican
foundation just outside the walls of Aarhus
, Denmark
.
in 1223, so if the priory was indeed in existence by 1227, then it was a very early Dominican house. Another source in a similarly casual manner suggests 1239. Certainly by 1240 a Dominican priory was established just outside the walls of Aarhus, Jutland
's largest town.
The placement of the priory was in conjunction with the still-extant church of Our Lady
(Vor Frue Kirke) which had been built in 1080 on the site of the chapel of St Nicholas' Spring, and served as the cathedral
church in Aarhus from 1180. The earlier chapel had been constructed in about 1060 when Bishop Christian arrived to organize the Diocese of Aarhus. The recently rediscovered crypt church beneath the choir of the Vor Frue Kirke is perhaps the oldest surviving stone church in Scandinavia
, dating from the reign of Sven Estridsen. When a new cathedral church was built, the Dominicans were given the use of the old church, to which they added a new choir and sacristy; by 1250 it had become the south range of the priory. The church's Gothic
nave was added in 1350 and a side aisle in 1450. The tower was added in 1500. A new altar piece was carved by Claus Berg about 1530 and may still be seen in the church today.
At the time of the Reformation
the four-storey priory complex had grown extensively.
The buildings of the priory thus became a public hospital and a poor house, beginning a use as accommodation for the vulnerable and needy that continues into modern times.
In 1888 the priory's former old chapter hall was turned into a chapel for the residents of the priory buildings which had been turned into apartments for the elderly.
In the years after World War II
it was decided to restore the Vor Frue Kirke and the comprehensive work was completed in the 1950s. During the course of the restoration the crypt church was rediscovered after centuries of oblivion. The medieval crucifix, thought to have been carved in 1400, which had survived the Reformation was rehung.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
foundation just outside the walls of Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Early history
The exact date of the founding of Our Lady's Priory is unknown. One source, in an aside, says it was founded about 1227. The first Dominican community was established at ToulouseToulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1223, so if the priory was indeed in existence by 1227, then it was a very early Dominican house. Another source in a similarly casual manner suggests 1239. Certainly by 1240 a Dominican priory was established just outside the walls of Aarhus, Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
's largest town.
The placement of the priory was in conjunction with the still-extant church of Our Lady
Church of Our Lady (Aarhus)
The Church of Our Lady is one of the largest churches of Århus, Denmark. It is situated in the centre of the city not far from Aarhus Cathedral . The church's crypt contains a stone church dating to 1060 AD.-History:...
(Vor Frue Kirke) which had been built in 1080 on the site of the chapel of St Nicholas' Spring, and served as the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
church in Aarhus from 1180. The earlier chapel had been constructed in about 1060 when Bishop Christian arrived to organize the Diocese of Aarhus. The recently rediscovered crypt church beneath the choir of the Vor Frue Kirke is perhaps the oldest surviving stone church in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, dating from the reign of Sven Estridsen. When a new cathedral church was built, the Dominicans were given the use of the old church, to which they added a new choir and sacristy; by 1250 it had become the south range of the priory. The church's Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
nave was added in 1350 and a side aisle in 1450. The tower was added in 1500. A new altar piece was carved by Claus Berg about 1530 and may still be seen in the church today.
At the time of the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
the four-storey priory complex had grown extensively.
Reformation in Denmark
Denmark became officially Lutheran in 1536 with the enthusiastic support of Christian III. All religious houses and their properties became crown property. The monks were expelled from the priory and either became local residents or travelled south into countries where monks could continue their way of life. The premises stood vacant for a time until Christian III directed that the church should be administered separately from the priory, and ordered the rest of the buildings to be converted into a "common hospital for the sick and the poor" in 1541. Vor Frue Kirke became a parish church, which it remains.The buildings of the priory thus became a public hospital and a poor house, beginning a use as accommodation for the vulnerable and needy that continues into modern times.
In 1888 the priory's former old chapter hall was turned into a chapel for the residents of the priory buildings which had been turned into apartments for the elderly.
In the years after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was decided to restore the Vor Frue Kirke and the comprehensive work was completed in the 1950s. During the course of the restoration the crypt church was rediscovered after centuries of oblivion. The medieval crucifix, thought to have been carved in 1400, which had survived the Reformation was rehung.
Sources
- Zwergius, Ole, nd. Århus Vor Frue Kloster 1239-1541.