Vile Church
Nestled between two impressive prehistoric burial mounds lies Vile Church and Cemetery – a place some refer to as “Little Jelling,” a poetic nod to Denmark’s historical cradle. The name Vile originates from Norse mythology and belongs to Odin’s brother, adding to the site’s mystique and cultural significance.
Vile Church is remarkably situated between two ancient burial mounds and is sometimes called “Little Jelling.” The church consists of a Romanesque chancel and nave built of granite ashlar. The wide tower, made of split fieldstone, dates from the late Middle Ages. The porch was added in 1795, and the initials TTMT – ØG on the gable refer to church owners Th. Thomsen and Marie Thomsen from Østergård in Åsted.
The original north portal is bricked up, while the south portal remains in use and has been expanded. Two original round-arched windows were uncovered and reopened during restoration. The interior is dominated by the original chancel arch with strong, profiled corbels. The chancel window features a glass mosaic designed by Poul Ebbe Nielsen.
The Romanesque altar table has been rebuilt. A former altarpiece from 1920 – a copy of Carl Bloch’s “Gethsemane” painted by N. Mølgaard Andersen – hangs in the church. On the altar stands an iron cross made by local craftsman Kresten Riis. The Romanesque baptismal font is decorated with four crosses, and the basin dates from the 18th century. The pulpit from the 1800s is adorned with Renaissance-style paintings of Christ and the evangelists.
Near the churchyard lies a burial mound excavated in 1983 by Skive Museum. Three urns containing cremated bones were found, dating to the Late Bronze Age – around 1000 BC. The mound also contained waste and granite blocks, possibly from church renovations. A partial restoration in 1984 reshaped the mound, but only partly. A full excavation might reveal even older burial remains.
Vile Church and its surroundings hold over a thousand years of history – from Bronze Age urns to Romanesque architecture and local legends.