Grønning Church – A Romanesque Gem in the Danish Countryside
Grønning Church is a Romanesque ashlar church featuring an apse, chancel, and nave. In the late Middle Ages, a tower and porch were added. The original south portal with four free-standing columns remains intact, though one sandstone column is a reconstruction.
The tympanum above the portal displays a striking lion relief. The north portal has nearly vanished, and its tympanum now serves as a stepping stone outside the porch.
The baptismal font is composed of three parts: granite top and base, and a sandstone middle section with four prominent heads and three small figures. It was reshaped in the 1800s, and the basin replaced in 1964. The baptismal dish is a South German piece from around 1575.
The church has no altarpiece. Instead, the altar is set in a niche from the 18th century, adorned with stucco decorations including the Hebrew name of Yahweh. A vase shaped like a burning urn and two candlesticks from 1724 and 1725 – one bearing Johan Parsberg’s name and coat of arms – complete the altar setting.
A marble plaque from 1723 honors Jens Maygaard, steward of Astrup, with a poetic tribute from his lord, Privy Councillor Reventlow:
"All that one should say of the good steward Who showed wisdom and unmatched loyalty..."
