Ansgar Church

Ansgar Church

As a harbour town, Ripa quickly developed into a busy settlement, a centre of trade with connections to the wider world. The Danish Vikings were already familiar with Christianity at an early stage, both from their raids and from the foreign merchants who came to the town. King Horik probably thought that a church and Danes willing to be baptised could be beneficial for Ripa’s reputation and continued prosperity. And so, in the mid-800s AD, permission was granted for bishop and missionary Ansgar to build a church in the town.

The construction of the church took place in 2017–2018, and if you did not witness the building yourself, you can watch it here. Ansgar Church was consecrated in 2018, and later that same year HM Queen Margrethe and HRH Princess Benedikte visited the church. In the years that followed, the church’s woodcarvings were painted, and the interior was decorated with large wall paintings. Most recently, stained-glass mosaic windows have been installed.