Brenderup Church
Description
Brenderup Church is a medieval church located in the southern part of Brenderup, about 15 km east of Middelfart in the Region of Southern Denmark. In the Middle Ages, the church was dedicated to Saint Peter.
The chancel and nave were built in the Romanesque period of granite ashlar blocks on a moulded plinth, and the chancel originally ended in a rounded apse. The original rectangular doorways are now blocked, and a Romanesque window survives in the north wall of the nave. In the late Gothic period, the chancel was extended eastwards, a tower was added, and vaults were inserted into both the nave and chancel, at which time the chancel arch was also widened.
The interior contains important post-medieval furnishings. The altarpiece dates from 1641 and was donated by Erik Bille of Kærsgård; its painted panel is from the mid-19th century. Several wooden figures of the Virgin Mary, Saint Peter, and other apostles probably come from a late Gothic altarpiece dating to about 1510–1520 and attributed to the workshop of Claus Berg in Odense. The pulpit dates from 1602 and resembles that of Fjelsted Church. A crucifixion group from around 1475 hangs on the north wall of the nave.
Among the memorials is a gravestone bearing coats of arms for Magdalene and Margrethe Emmiksdatter, who died in 1598 and 1581. The Romanesque granite baptismal font is decorated with four projecting heads and carved vine ornamentation.
Address
Kirkevej 39, Brenderup, Denmark
Established
c. 1100