The church

The church of Nordby is in Danish relations an unusual church. The church room is crosswise posed and has no allocation in nave and choir. Originally the pulpit was placed above the altar table as it was modern in 18. Century. The church was built 1786. A master builder from the area, Peder Friisvad from Varde, led the construction work. He has created a well proportioned building in the early new classic style. The building is an example for the fact that also in the outermost corners of the Kingdom architecture could be created with safe sense for the ideals of late 18. Century: noble simplicity and gentle greatness.

Map

The prehistory

The current church replaced the old parish church in Rindby. As the previous church it was called Church of Fanø. Fanø is originally the name only for the northern part of the island, which belongs to the parish of Nordby. The church in Rindby was placed on the cemetery, which is still there. It was a traditional Danish Middle Ages church with choir, nave and tower. In the course of the years it was extended with three annexes at the north side. This was the first stage of a development, which led to the special type of churches one finds on Fanø. In the island of Rømø one can see the early stage, a Middle Ages church with annexes. In the church of Sønderho one finds a provisional stage; here the northern part of the church room still has the character of an annex to the main naver in the southern part. In the church of Nordby the master builder has placed altar and pulpit central at the middle of the south wall and furnished the whole area around this center.

The organ

The organ is built by Marcussen and Reuter, Aabenraa, 1844. The organ was given to the church by king Christian VIII after a visit in the church 1842.

The font

The font is poured in ore in the last half of the 15. Century and is thus the oldest item of the inventory of the church. The font was transferred from the church in Rindby too. The font has outside a Latin inscription, which stands both inversely and upside down. We read: "This is the baptism of conversion". The words are separated by four poured crucifixes. The font stands on four heads, remainders of four whole man figures, which should have carried the basin, as it is known from other fonts. Perhaps the missing foot and the failed inscription give the explanation for the fact that this otherwise so precious piece came to this at that time impoverished island.

The ships

Nine ships are hanging in the church. They are built between 1700 and 1966.

Foto: Torben Salling