Stouby Church
A couple of kilometers north of the village of Stouby near Vejle Fjord lies a church with a history that dates back to around 1130. The village church, which for many centuries was owned by the local estate Rosenvold, now features fascinating furnishings from its construction to the present day.
Romanesque village church near Vejle Fjord
Around the year 1130, Stouby Church was built as a Romanesque rubble stone church, making it one of the oldest churches in Denmark. Most village churches in Denmark were constructed between 1150 and 1250. However, the church has undergone many changes, and around 1470, most of the original church was torn down and replaced by a new Gothic church. Parts of the original church still stand, including the north wall of the nave and part of the original tower in the west. Quite unusually for the 15th century, most of the church is built from rubble stone that originates from the original church.
The tiled tower is uncharacteristically low. The church's tower has seen many changes over time. There has been a tower since its construction. In the 1500s, the rebuilt tower collapsed, and a new one was erected, which was significantly shortened in the 1800s.
History of the church
At the Reformation in 1536, the king seized Stouby Church (and the other Danish churches) from the Catholic Church. At that time, the church owned 40% of Danish land. The following year, the king transferred ownership of Stouby and Vrigsted Churches to the priest Anders Krogh in exchange for his rights over St. Hans Monastery in Horsens. However, he was under strong influence from the local lord of the Rosenvold estate, who effectively controlled the church, and in 1599, the lord Frederik Rosenkrantz received a life interest in the church. The church had several interesting owners under Rosenvold, including Christian IV’s estranged wife Kirsten Munk, who significantly influenced the church's decisions. The Rantzau family took over Rosenvold (and thus Stouby Church) in the 17th century and owned it until 1912, when it became privately owned.
Inside the church
Stouby Church has a bright yet warm interior with furnishings from many periods. The baptismal font is the church's oldest item and has likely been in the church since its construction in the 1100s. The granite font features four angels battling evil. The second oldest items are the Gothic altar candlesticks from around 1500. The beautiful pulpit from 1640 is an impressive piece of woodwork that bears a coat of arms for Kirsten Munk. The altar piece dates from 1731.
In 1952, the church was restored by the well-known Horsens architect Viggo Norn. During this restoration, the church was decorated with beautiful stained glass windows made by Kresten Iversen.
Would you like to visit Stouby Church?
Stouby Church is open when the caretakers are in the churchyard. The caretakers work on weekdays during regular hours (Mon-Thurs 8:00-16:00, Fri 8:00-13:00). The church will be open most of the time during this period, but there are no guarantees as the caretaker may be elsewhere.
More historical attractions
The Kystlandet region offers many exciting historical attractions, ranging from ancient times to industrial history. From museums to architectural works and attractions in nature. On this page, you can find inspiration for historically interesting experiences near Horsens, Odder, and Juelsminde.