Ørslevkloster Church
A memorial plaque tells the story of Mogens Heinesen’s fate: in 1589, he was convicted of piracy and executed in Copenhagen. He was a colourful and feared sailor whose life and deeds continue to stir curiosity and debate. His epitaph stands as a powerful testament to the dramatic fates of the Reformation era and is one of many tales that make Ørslevkloster Church a captivating stop.
Ørslevkloster Church forms the northern wing of the four-winged Ørslev Monastery complex. The nave and chancel are Romanesque, while the tower and porch reflect Late Gothic style. Originally, the church resembled others in the region, though with notably larger proportions. From the mid-13th century, it became the monastery church for a Benedictine convent, and over the following decades, it was integrated into the monastery’s four-wing layout.
After the Reformation, the monastery was dissolved and Ørslev Monastery became privately owned. The estate’s owners have left their mark on the church – especially Marie de Lasson, who in the 1730s donated the crown-shaped canopy above the baptismal font and the pulpit. She also restored a noble chair from around 1600, now used as a vestry for the priest.
In 1745, Marie de Lasson established a family burial chapel on the north side of the chancel, enclosed by an ornate wrought-iron gate. The chapel was demolished in 1933, and three sarcophagi – including hers – were moved to the lower tower room.
On the north side of the chancel lies a gravestone and, above it, an epitaph for the Faroese Mogens Heinesen, who was convicted of piracy and executed in Copenhagen in 1589. His friend and business partner, Hans Lindenow, overturned the verdict in 1590 and moved Heinesen’s coffin to the church’s chancel. Lindenow wrote the Latin inscription, praising Heinesen as “outstanding in piety and wisdom, and accomplished great deeds for many years.”
Opening hours: The church is open during the summer season from 08:00–16:00.