Why is the church in Uldum so young?
In the village of Uldum, not far from Uldum Mill and Uldum Marsh, lies the town's church, built in 1883. There has been a church in Uldum for many years—the current church replaced an existing medieval church that was likely constructed between 1150 and 1250, like most other Danish village churches. The previous church was owned by the king until 1687 when it was transferred to Baron Peter Rodsteen, along with the neighboring Langskov Church. The church changed hands among various wealthy owners until 1803 when, unusually, it was sold to all the local farmers.
Both of the parish's churches, Uldum Church and Langskov Church, were demolished three years apart and replaced. The reason Uldum's churches were torn down while most other Danish churches still stand likely stems from the area's strong influence of church pietism in the 18th century. By the 19th century, this movement had split into two branches: an inner missionary and a Grundtvigian branch. This was particularly a tendency among the farmers, who often found themselves at odds with the pastor—a kind of self-determination mindset that also explains why the farmers initially chose to purchase the churches from the nobility.
The Grundtvigian ideas also led to the establishment of Uldum Folk High School, which was closely associated with the church for many years.
About Uldum Church
The new church was built on the same site as the old one, with materials from the previous structure being reused. Like most buildings of that time, the church was constructed of red bricks, but with Gothic inspiration from the period 1150-1200. The prominent square tower features an eye-catching pyramid-shaped roof.
At the entrance to the church, there is a granite stone with depressions from the Bronze Age (1700-500 BC), likely used as a sacrificial stone.
Upon entering the church, you will immediately notice the beautiful brown wooden ceiling. The church's interior combines new and old, with several items from the old church incorporated into the new building. The granite baptismal font is Romanesque and dates from 1150-1200, and the pulpit is from 1675.
However, the most remarkable and striking feature of the church's interior is undoubtedly the beautiful altar table from 2017, created as a 600-kilogram glass piece by Swedish glass artist Bertil Vallien.
Would you like to visit Uldum Church?
Uldum Church is open from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Friday. You are welcome to drop by.
More historical attractions
The Kystlandet region offers many exciting historical attractions, ranging from antiquity to industrial history, from museums to architectural sites and natural attractions. On this page, you can find inspiration for historically interesting experiences near Horsens, Odder, and Juelsminde.
