New Church in Horsens

Rapidly growing parish now home to Oesterhaab Church

The 13th century Torsted parish church, south of Horsens, was no longer large enough to serve its 8,000 parishioners, so on 4th September a second parish was opened and a new church consecrated. With room for 250 churchgoers it was nevertheless ’standing room only’ when Oesterhaab Kirke opened its doors. Designed by Fogh and Foelner Architects and built on a 14,000 sq. km. site purchased from the city council in an area scheduled for development, the new brick and concrete church has cost DKK 31 million (€4.2 million).

Rural dean Litten Hjorth has fought for the new church for 25 years, so it was with great joy and some relief that she said at the opening service, “Today is a day of happiness. We have a beautiful, light-filled building where we can celebrate and serve.”

Organ and altarpiece on the way
However, the church is not completely finished. A new organ is being installed and the New Carlsberg Foundation is funding an altar wall, for which artist John Koerner is responsible. “It’s a major project,” he says. “The wall and the work measure 4 x 11 metres, so the biggest problem in my studio is to see it properly at a distance. When that is finished, I shall set to work on the altar candlesticks and a ceramic vase.”

The acoustics of the church will meet their first serious test on 9th October when world-famous flautist Michala Petri gives an inaugural concert together with guitarist Lars Hannibal.

By: Edward Broadbridge

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