DANSK TEKST

Kirken

Vidste du, at Danmarks første protestantiske kirke ligger på Avernakø?

I oktober 1536 udstedte Christian den III et kongebrev til beboerne på Avernakø, dagen efter reformationens indførelse. Dette historiske øjeblik fandt sted midt i Grevens Fejde, en blodig borgerkrig i Danmark, der markerede overgangen fra katolsk middelalder til luthersk nytid.

Den 30. oktober 1536 var officielt dagen for overgangen til den lutherske reformation, hvor Christian den III holdt sin trontale i København. Dagen efter blev Avernakø oprettet som det første nye sogn efter reformationen. Kongebrevet tillod øboerne at ansætte deres egen præst og bygge deres eget kirkesogn.

Avernakø Kirke blev den første kirke i Danmark, der fra begyndelsen var protestantisk. I sin oprindelige form var den en beskeden bindingsværksbygning med stråtag, der lignede et almindeligt hus. I 1600-tallet blev en ny kirke opført, men uden klokketårn; klokken hang på ydermuren. I 1876 blev kirken restaureret og fik et klokketårn, og klokken fra den gamle kirke blev omstøbt og ringer stadig for sognet.

På det tidspunkt var kirken en del af baron Otto Ditlev Rosenørn Lehns gods, Hvidkilde. Baronens initialer, ODRL, præger stadig indgangen til kirken som et minde om hans rolle som bygherre ved restaureringen. 

Indtil 2010 havde Avernakø sin egen præst, men i dag betjenes kirken i samarbejde med Faaborg, Diernæs og Lyø kirker. Kirken har fortsat en dyb forankring i øens historie og identitet, og den fungerer som en af grundstenene i det lokale fællesskab.

The Church

ENGLISH VERSION

Did you know that Denmark's first Protestant church is located on Avernakø?

In October 1536, King Christian III issued a royal letter to the residents of Avernakø, the day after the introduction of the Reformation. This historic moment occurred in the midst of the Count's Feud, a bloody civil war in Denmark that marked the transition from the Catholic Middle Ages to the Lutheran modern era.

October 30, 1536, was officially the day of transition to the Lutheran Reformation, where Christian III delivered his throne speech in Copenhagen. The day after, Avernakø was established as the first new parish after the Reformation. The royal letter allowed the islanders to hire their own priest and build their own church parish.

Avernakø Church became the first church in Denmark that was Protestant from the beginning. In its original form, it was a modest timber-framed building with a thatched roof, resembling an ordinary house. In the 17th century, a new church was built, but without a bell tower; the bell hung on the exterior wall. In 1876, the church was restored and equipped with a bell tower, and the bell from the old church was recast and still rings for the parish.

At that time, the church was part of Baron Otto Ditlev Rosenørn Lehn's estate, Hvidkilde. The baron's initials, ODRL, still adorn the entrance to the church as a reminder of his role as the builder during the restoration.

Until 2010, Avernakø had its own priest, but today the church is served in collaboration with Faaborg, Diernæs, and Lyø churches. The church continues to have a deep connection to the island's history and identity, serving as one of the cornerstones of the local community.