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Sct. Laurentii kirke – den tilsandede kirke
Gamle Landevej 63, Skagen
Skagen's first church was built at the end of the 1300s. Exactly when is not known, but from written sources we know that it stood there in 1387. It was a Gothic longhouse building made of red bricks. When completed it was the largest church in Vendsyssel, 45 metres long with a tower 22 metres high. Its size may seem surprising, but can probably be explained by the fact that Skagen at this time was a relatively large and busy town, whose main occupation was fishing and a lively trade in fish. In addition, farming was also carried on from several large farms in the area.
The church was dedicated to the Catholic saint Saint Laurence, who according to legend was burned on a grill as punishment for giving the church's treasures to the poor. Partly as a result of overexploitation of dune vegetation and small woods, drifting sand gradually became a growing problem for the area. Farmland became unusable and buildings were destroyed by the enormous, shifting sand dunes. Access to the church became difficult, and on Store Bededag (Great Prayer Day) 1775 the drifting sand lay so high up the church that it was close to impossible to dig one's way to the church door.
For the next 20 years a hopeless battle was fought against the sand. Nature won. In 1795 permission was given by royal resolution to close and demolish the church.
The altarpiece and other furnishings were sold and scattered to the four winds. Building materials were reused. The only things preserved - and found in Skagen kirke today - are the chalice, paten, wafer box and 2 magnificent candlesticks.
Under 5-6 metres of sand the church floor, altar table and possibly a limestone baptismal font may lie hidden. No excavations have so far been able to document this.
The churchyard at Sct. Laurentii Kirke was used until 1810. In 1816 the lighthouse service took over the remaining tower, whitewashed it and used it as a seamark.
The church tower was listed in 1903 and is today managed by Naturstyrelsen (the Danish Nature Agency).
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- 13. Jul 2025
- 17. Jul 2023
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