Frederiksberg Church

Frederiksberg Church
Frederiksberg Church
55°40′27.4″N 12°31′58″E / 55.674278°N 12.53278°E / 55.674278; 12.53278Coordinates: 55°40′27.4″N 12°31′58″E / 55.674278°N 12.53278°E / 55.674278; 12.53278
Location	Frederiksberg, Copenhagen
Country	Denmark
Denomination	Protestant
Architecture
Status	Church
Architect(s)	Felix Dusart
Architectural type	Church
Style	Baroque
Groundbreaking	1732
Completed	6 January 1734
Specifications
Materials	Brick

Frederiksberg Church (Danish: Frederiksberg Kirke) is the oldest church building in the Frederiksberg district of Copenhagen, Denmark. Completed in 1734, it is built to an unusual octagonal design in Baroque style. It is situated at Frederiksberg Runddel in front of the main entrance to Frederiksberg Gardens, on the corner of Frederiksberg Allé and Pile Allé,

Frederiksberg was founded when King Christian III transferred 20 Dutch families from Amager to the area, which became known as Ny Hollænderbyen ("New Dutch Town"), or Ny Amager ("New Dutch Town). The residents of this community constructed a small wooden church in 1653 across the street from the present Frederiksberg Church, roughly where the Storm P. Museum stands today. It was burned down by Swedish troops in 1658 during the Assault on Copenhagen in the Second Northern War. After the war, the Dutch community returned to the area but, struck with deep poverty, a new church was not completed until 1681.

After the turn of the century, the area changed dramatically when King Frederick IV built Frederiksberg Palace on a nearby hilltop. The Dutch farmers were forced away from the area which became a fashionable summer destination, from 1710 known as Frederiksberg.

In 1732 it was finally decided to build a new church. The King contributed with 2000 rigsdaler and a piece of land to build it on, and his sister, Princess Sophie Hedevig, donated her entire income from tithe for the year of 1732.