— St. Mark’s Church (Sankt Markus Kirke)

The History of St. Mark’s Church
St. Mark’s Church (Sankt Markus Kirke) was designed by architect Carl Lendorf (1839-1918) from November 23, 1900, to November 9, 1902. The church is a detached Greek cross-shaped structure in the Romanesque style, featuring rounded arches and a Byzantine dome. A modern descendant of Denmark’s medieval monastic churches, it is built with handmade red bricks and slate covered roof, inspired by Southern European Neoclassicism (Constantinople and Florence/Rome/Venice).

Originally, the church had seating for 950 visitors. Lendorf aimed to create a spacious church that appeared monumental in the cityscape while fostering a sense of solemnity and coziness for both small and large congregations. This goal was achieved, although the church interior can seem somewhat somber. Remarkably, the church feels adequately populated even with just fifty people sitting in the nave.

The church spans 26 meters from gable to gable, extending to 34 meters from the main portal to the sacristy. Extensions at the cross arms include a northern area housing a clergy room (verger’s office) and chapel, and southern staircases to the organ and side pulpits. An octagonal dome with a lantern and spire, culminating in a cross, rises above the church’s cross intersection. The height from the street to the spire’s tip is 37 meters. The northern cross arm is extended into an apse-like sacristy with round-arched windows separated by half-columns. A notable feature of the sacristy is its fixed furnishings, including a bench along the entire apse and a “bishop’s chair” in the center.

Completed Works 2012-2023
Forma has been involved with the conmtinoius renovation and transformation of the church since 2012.

• Comprehensive renovation plan for the church

• Flooring replacement from linoleum to tile bricks

• Transformation of the chapel into a kitchen and staff room

• Renovation of the clergy room

• Renovation of two counseling rooms

• Renovation of the sacristy

• Lighting project for frescoes and the dome

• Restoration of frescoes and lime paintings

• Archaeology of colors

• Replacement of leaded windows

• Dismantling and storage of chandelier

• Furniture and furnishing projects

• Maintenance plan

• Ongoing maintenance

• Yearly church inspection