St. Peter's Church, Næstved


St. Peter's Church is located at Næstved on the Danish island of Zealand. St. Peter's is situated in the Næstved parish of the Diocese of Roskilde of the Church of Denmark. The church is one of Denmark's foremost Gothic buildings.

History

The church is first mentioned in a monasterial letter from 1135. Today's Gothic church replaces an older Romanesque cross-shaped building built of limestone and brick from the second half of the 12th century. This in turn was built on the site of an even older stone church with two western towers. In 1375, the extension to the present Gothic church began. Built of red brick, it is one of Denmark's largest and finest Gothic buildings, scarcely altered since 1375. The chancel, with its five tall windows, is particularly impressive. The church has undergone several restorations, including 1852-56 by the architects Niels Sigfred Nebelong and Georg Kretz and during 1883-85 by the architects Johan Daniel Herholdt and V. Ahlmann. It is Næstved's largest church, measuring 55 m in length.

Furnishings

The church's most notable wall painting or frescos is on the north wall of the chancel. It depicts King Valdemar IV and Queen Helvig. There are several uncovered frescoes in the church by lime painter Morten Maler whose frescoes also appear at Gerlev Church and Gimlinge Church in Slagelse.
The most imposing feature of the church is the pulpit, designed by Lorentz Jørgensen of Holbæk in 1671. Two rows of choir stalls and a bronze font date back to about 1500.
The altarpiece is headed by a late-Gothic arched crucifix which the church received in 1844 from nearby Fodby Church. The tower clock dates to 1736 and is the work of J.D. Galle of Næstved. The church also contains a number of gravestones and epitaphs dedicated to the families of Næstved.
The church organ is from 1960 and built by Marcussen & Son.