Hylleholt Church History
Hylleholt Church is an Evangelical-Lutheran parish church serving the 3,200 inhabitants of Faxe Ladeplads.
The church underwent extensive restoration in 2002. This restoration was meticulously documented by Hylleholt Church's chairman, Arne Skovbæk, architect Jesper Herbert Nielsen, and by priest and author Lisbeth Smedegaard Andersen, who described the new church art.
Hylleholt Church was built between 1875-1878 on the initiative of Count Moltke, owner of Bregentved Estate. During this period, the limestone quarries in Faxe were being consolidated. A railway was constructed and the harbor improved, which significantly increased the population. Architect Th. Zeltner designed the church in English Neo-Gothic style, featuring an elegant spire reaching 39 meters towards the sky.
During the restoration, efforts were made to preserve the original architectural style while introducing new soft color combinations, creating a space with renewed light that highlights individual elements.
Three new paintings in the original Neo-Gothic altarpiece were created by internationally recognized artist Maja Lisa Engelhardt. The paintings depict "Christ's Ascension", with the South Zealand landscape serving as a background, symbolizing Christ's presence where we live and work. The altar cloth shows a scene of Moses in the rock cleft, with God covering Moses with his hand as he passes, revealing the holy radiance of God.
The original altar paintings by Carl Christian Andersen hang behind the altarpiece. The original baptismal font was also restored in 2002.
A portrait relief of Count Moltke hangs on the north wall. The church organ was originally a gift from Countess Caroline Moltke of Bregentved. In 1996, the organ was expanded to its current 16 stops by organ builder P.G. Andersen.
The church features two ship models, a traditional symbol of the journey from Earth to Heaven. The first ship, "Skjold", was hung in June 1925, and the second, "Dronning Thyra", was installed in May 2012.
