Trinity Church, Kristianstad

Trinity Church (Swedish: Heliga trefaldighetskyrkan) is a church building in Kristianstad, Sweden, built between 1617 and 1628 by Christian IV of Denmark. He had founded the city of Kristianstad in 1614 at a time when Scania was part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The church's large size and style reveal the king's ambitions for his new city.[1]

Trinity Church
Heliga trefaldighetskyrkan
Trinity Church
56°1′54.7″N 14°9′10.4″E
LocationKristianstad
CountrySweden
DenominationChurch of Sweden
History
Consecrated28 July 1628 (1628-07-28)
Architecture
Architect(s)Lorenz van Steenwinckel
Administration
DioceseLund
ParishKristianstad Holy Trinity

Architecture
Nave and chancel.

Designed by the Flemish-Danish architect, Lorenz van Steenwinckel, the grand building is widely considered by many to be Scandinavia's finest Renaissance church. Its extensive nave is able to accommodate congregations of up to 1,400. Like many Danish churches of the times, it is built of red brick. But this church is decorated with many sandstone statues and ornaments, including several monograms of Christian IV, testifying to his involvement.

The well-preserved interior is decked with star-shaped cross vaults, supported by pillars of granite. Trinity Church has been little altered since it was built. The main addition is its 59-meter-tall tower constructed in 1865. The church is pleasantly and abundantly illuminated thanks to its 26 tall windows.

The entrance through the western tower opens into a six-bay nave, with wide aisles, terminating in a projecting eastern sanctuary. The vaults are covered with a cross-gabled roof, with large ornamented gables on the north and south sides.[2]

Furnishings and decorations

The pulpit, which is sculpted in Belgian and Italian marble, shows Christ and the four evangelists. The impressive canopy hanging above the pulpit weighs almost a ton.

The Baroque organ case survives, including the case pipes, from German-born Johan Lorentz's [3] 1630 organ, but the organ itself has been replaced. The present organ is used both for concerts and church services.[4]

The delicately carved benches are as old as the church itself.[5]

  • Photograph from the south, c. 1900
    Photograph from the south, c. 1900
  • Interior with chandalier
    Interior with chandalier
  • 1630 organ case with original pipes
    1630 organ case with original pipes
  • Main entrance through the tower
    Main entrance through the tower

References
  1. Heliga Trefaldighets kyrka. From Syssverige.dk. Danish. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  2. Marian Card Donnelly: Architecture in the Scandinavian countries. From Google Books. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  3. "Johan Lorentz". Archived from the original on 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  4. Heliga Trefaldighetskyrkan. From Skåne.com. In Swedish. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  5. Tove's Walking Tour of Kristianstad. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
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