Hylleholt Church in Faxe Ladeplads stands out with its graceful spire and a remarkable blend of historic architecture alongside contemporary church art.
Serving the 3,200 residents of Faxe Ladeplads, Hylleholt Church is an Evangelical-Lutheran parish church. It underwent a significant restoration in 2002, a process thoroughly chronicled by the church’s chairman Arne Skovbæk, architect Jesper Herbert Nielsen, and priest and author Lisbeth Smedegaard Andersen, who detailed the introduction of new church artwork.
Constructed between 1875 and 1878 at the behest of Count Moltke, proprietor of the Bregentved Estate, the church was erected during a time of growth when the limestone quarries in Faxe were being unified, a railway was built, and harbor facilities were enhanced, all contributing to a population increase. The architect, Th. Zeltner, designed the church in an English Neo-Gothic style, featuring a spire rising elegantly to 39 meters.
The 2002 restoration aimed to maintain the church’s original architectural character while introducing soft, new color schemes that bathe the interior in a fresh light, accentuating its features. Renowned artist Maja Lisa Engelhardt created three new paintings for the original Neo-Gothic altarpiece. These works portray "Christ’s Ascension" with the South Zealand landscape as a backdrop, symbolizing Christ’s presence in our daily lives and surroundings. Additionally, the altar cloth illustrates Moses sheltered in the rock cleft by God's hand, revealing the divine radiance.
The church still displays the original altar paintings by Carl Christian Andersen behind the updated altarpiece, and the baptismal font was also restored during the 2002 renovation. A portrait relief of Count Moltke adorns the north wall. The organ, initially donated by Countess Caroline Moltke of Bregentved, was expanded in 1996 to 16 stops by organ builder P.G. Andersen.
Inside the church are two model ships, a traditional emblem of the spiritual journey from Earth to Heaven. The first, named "Skjold," was hung in June 1925, followed by "Dronning Thyra" in May 2012.
Contact Information:
Email: hylleholt.sogn@km.dk
Phone: +45 56 71 60 83
Mobile: +45 24 66 89 77
Address: Hovedgaden 13 C, 4654 Faxe Ladeplads