Grundtvig's Church

The Lutheran church in the Copenhagen district of Bispebjerg resembles an enlarged model from the popular Danish Lego building set. The Grundtvig Church was designed in 1913 by Copenhagen architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint. The foundation stone was laid only after World War I on Grundtvig's birthday, September 8, 1921. The first phase was completed in 1927 with the opening of the so-called Tower Church, which featured a 49-meter-high façade with a belfry. Peder Jensen-Klint did not live to see the completion of the entire church, as he passed away in 1930, and the construction was taken over by his son Kaare Klint, who completed the temple in 1940. Six million yellow bricks were used for the construction of the church.
The expressionist form was free of any additional ornaments. The entire temple, including the floors, pillars, walls, vaults, and pulpit, was built from ochre bricks, which in themselves create a subtle geometric decor. Peder Jensen-Klint is also the author of the surrounding block construction of apartment buildings, which were created between 1924 and 1936 from the same material as the church, forming lively streets, a dignified square, and quiet courtyards.
The church is named after the significant philosopher, writer, and author of the Danish national anthem Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig. Peder Jensen-Klint was inspired by Danish rural churches and Gothic cathedrals in his design. The generous three-nave hall (76 m long, 35 m wide, and 22 m high) can accommodate up to 1,800 worshippers during a service. The church houses two organs made by the company Marcussen & Søn from South Jutland. The first organ was designed in 1940 by Kaare Klint, and the second was added in 1965 according to a project by Esben Klint. They constitute the largest organs in all of Scandinavia.