Lem Church
Beware when entering the churchyard, for an old legend is tied to the church: If you see a maiden walking into the churchyard, do not react. Per Vinter did—and his head became so twisted that he had to ask the priest for help. The priest’s advice was: "When you see such things, let them go their way—and you go yours."
Lem Church consists of a Romanesque apse, chancel, and nave, built of granite ashlar. At the end of the Middle Ages, the tower and porch were added, and in the 16th century, the very large and dominant south chapel was constructed. These additions were built using reused granite ashlar and brick.
The church was once thatched. In the 16th century, a young man accidentally set the thatched roof on fire while shooting at pigeons. The burned parts of the church were rebuilt in 1588 by the church’s owner, Tyge Krabbe, a nobleman from Bustrup. This is evidenced by an inscription on the rear pew. At the same time, Tyge Krabbe also had the transept built. It was used as a burial chapel for him and his family.
Lem Church is best known for its wealth of Romanesque granite reliefs.
The apse is adorned with twin round-arched blind arcades supported by pilasters with richly profiled bases and capitals, and corbels shaped like human heads.
The window lintel in the apse clearly shows how evil lurks everywhere.
All around the church, several granite reliefs can be seen, including a basilisk, a dragon, horses, and a mermaid holding her split tail in each hand. The divided tail clearly shows the mermaid’s conflicted nature, and she belongs to the forces of evil.
Among the church’s furnishings, the baptismal font with its Romanesque leaf ornamentation is the oldest.
The pews closest to the chancel bear the coats of arms and initials of Tyge Krabbe and his wife.
The pulpit is not particularly decorated. However, on the north wall hangs a panel from an older pulpit depicting the four evangelists.
On the south wall hangs an Emmaus painting by the artist Hans Smidth, painted in 1872. The painting originally served as the altarpiece but was replaced by the beautiful mosaic window in the apse, created by artist Mogens Jørgensen. The window was installed during the church’s restoration in 1964–65.
According to legend, if you pass by Lem Church and see a maiden entering the churchyard, it is wise to ignore her—otherwise, you might end up like Per Vinter. He turned around and had his head twisted so badly that he had to ask the priest for help to straighten it again. The priest’s warning was: "When you see such things, let them go their way—and you go yours."