In the middle of the Broagerland peninsula stands Broager Church, visible from almost the entire parish.
The earliest written records of the church date back to the year 1209. It was most likely completed toward the end of the 12th century and consists of an apse, chancel, and nave. The church is built of large bricks, which at the time were something entirely new. Clay was abundant in the area. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, but is better known for its association with Saint George.
The church was built in the Romanesque round-arch style and originally had a flat ceiling and small, high-set windows. It was decorated with some of the earliest frescoes, depicting a brick frieze around the chancel arch and the two side altars around the year 1200. Around 1250, a Romanesque image of Christ was added in the apse, where the altar stands.
Around 1200–1250, the broad tower was constructed in late Romanesque style. There was only a single narrow entrance to the tower, and there was no passage between the tower and the nave, suggesting that the tower may have been intended as a local defensive structure. In the 15th century, the two spires were added to the tower, by which time the Gothic style (the pointed-arch style) had taken hold. These two spires give Broager Church its distinctive appearance, and there are similar legends about their origin as those known from other churches. In the same century, the two transepts and the sacristy were added, also in Gothic style. With the transepts, the nave (where the congregation is seated) now formed a cross. Possibly during this major reconstruction, the wooden ceiling was removed and replaced with high, pointed vaults. The beautiful interior space was then complete.
In the nave, the Last Judgement scene with decorative foliage was painted around 1500–1525, and in the northern transept, the legends of Saint George and the dragon. Finally, in 1587, the series of Evangelist paintings in the chancel was completed.
The church is an expensive building to maintain, and funds have not always been available. In 1880, records show that there were members of the parish council who proposed removing the spires from the tower for financial reasons.
As a rule of thumb, each century requires its own major and costly restoration.
Yes, Broager Church is a living house.
