Brøndum Church – Between Granite, Gold, and Enigmatic Trolls
Brøndum Church stands like a historic jewel in the Danish landscape, containing centuries of faith, tradition, and folk legends. This Romanesque granite church combines ancient stone craftsmanship with modern artistic contributions to form an atmospheric whole.
History and Architecture
The chancel and nave were built in the Romanesque period from granite blocks.
The tower dates from the end of the Middle Ages, and the porch was added in the 1960s.
The year 1747 refers to a major renovation.
A Romanesque gravestone with a stylized Calvary cross is embedded in the chancel gable.
Columns once flanked the north and south portals – they’re still visible in the bricked-up north entrance.
Furnishings with Stories
The altar table consists of a Romanesque granite slab with a relic compartment, now covered by wooden panels.
The 1616 altarpiece has new side wings and four modern paintings by Ingolf Røjbæk: Apostle John, Virgin Mary, the Crucified and the Ascended Christ.
In 1996, Elin Stefànsdòttir added textile decorations to the altar, kneeler, and chancel floor, enhancing the motifs with harmonious patterns and colors.
The chalice from 1652 bears the coat of arms of Ebbe Ulfeld and Marie Grubbe, noble residents of Skivehus.
Baptism and Preaching
The granite font with smooth basin is Romanesque; the baptismal dish is South German from around 1550.
The pulpit from around 1650 features a rural baroque style with figures of the evangelists.
Gilded saint figures, likely from a former altarpiece, still hang in the church—though the gilding isn’t original.
People and Memory
On the tower room’s rear wall and inside the space are paintings of Pastor Morten Brøndum with his wife and 14 children, Pastor E. Boeck, and Christ on the cross—a remnant from the earlier altarpiece.
The Legend of the Troll’s Stone
At the northwest corner of the tower lies a large stone with three mysterious holes. According to legend, a furious troll from Hvidbjerg hurled the stone at Brøndum, enraged that its church was taller than Hvidbjerg’s. Fortunately, he was a poor aim—the stone was peacefully reused as a cornerstone, but the claw marks remain visible to this day.
