Jegindø Church - Thyholm
A Church of Views and History
Jegindø Church is beautifully located where all the island’s roads meet, and its large white building can be seen far across the waters of the Limfjord. Due to a strong Inner Mission revival on the island, the old church could no longer accommodate the growing congregation, and in 1919 the new, spacious church was built. The original chancel was preserved.
Construction cost 65,000 kroner, of which 12,000 were raised locally.
The eastern part of the old church now serves as sacristy and clergy room. The granite blocks reveal that a church has stood here since the time of King Valdemar. Many gravestones show that the island’s former fishing families came from the Harboøre area.
Inside, the large white vaults make a striking impression. The altarpiece was crafted by Hans Snedker in 1598. The painting of Jesus on the cross is from 1880, while the inscriptions of the Lord’s Prayer, baptismal command, and words of institution date from 1750, along with the Latin text: Beati, qvi ad coenam nuptiarum agni vocati sunt – Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The side panels feature small pietist paintings, and at the top, Jehovah’s name appears in Hebrew letters flanked by angel heads.
The pulpit from 1640 has unusual imagery: John with a chalice and book, Christ with the globe, and Paul with the sword of the Word. A Latin inscription reads: Anno 1654. Jesus Salvator, salva nos – Year 1654, Jesus the Savior, save us.
In the wide chancel, frescoes from 1919 include eight embedded scripture passages. The baptismal font from the original church holds a small Nuremberg basin from around 1575, depicting the Fall of Man.
In the side nave hangs a beautifully crafted model of the frigate "Dannebrog", with a porcelain figurehead. Remarkably, 38 pew ends from 1643 have been preserved. The organ loft, installed by Rasmus Snedker in 1647, was also moved from the old church.
The church’s two bells date from 1463 and 1947. In 2007, a carillon with 11 bells was added, playing daily at 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21.
