Holtug Church

Holtug Church (Danish: Holtug Kirke) is a church in Holtug on the Stevns Peninsula, Stevns Municipality, Denmark. The church dates from the middle of the 12th century, but only the walls of the nave from the original Romanesque church have survived.

Holtug Church
Holtug Kirke
Location	Holtug, Denmark
Denomination	Church of Denmark
Architecture
Architectural type	Romanesque style
Years built	c. 1150
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Roskilde
Parish	Holtug Sogn

History

The church was constructed from limestone ashlars in the Romanesque style around 1150.^[1] In the 15th century, the chancel was replaced with a newer and larger one. A limestone ashlar from the original chancel, which was reused in the south wall of the new one, features the runal inscription Tirad rist ("Tirad wrote [this]").^[2] The tower was added between 1500 and 1525, and the porch from around 1600.^[3]

Interior and furnishings

Fresco

The western cross vault features murals attributed to the so-called Høvelse Master.^[3]

The altarpiece is from 1821 and was painted by J.L. Lund. The font was returned to the church in connection with a restoration in 1984. The pulpit is from c. 1825 and is made of wood. In 1946, it was decorated with paintings of the Evangelists and Paul by Erik Petersen. The organ is a Ramus organ from 1861 and was expanded by Starup in 1932.^[3]

Cemetery

The church is surrounded by a cemetery. Notable burials include:

• Jacob Brønnum Scavenius (1749–1820), landowner^[4]
• Peder Brønnum Scavenius (1795–1868), landowner and politician^[5]
• Jacob Scavenius (1838–1915), landowner and politician^[6]
• Harald Scavenius (1873–1939), diplomat and Minister of Foreign Affairs^[7]