St. Albans Church is a pretty stone church topped by an elegant spire, known simply as The English Church, the only Anglican church in Copenhagen. Built between 1885 and 1887 for a growing English congregation in the city, it was designed by Arthur Blomfield in the Gothic Revival Style as a traditional  English parish church.  The architecture is also known as the Early English Style or Lancet Gothic. When the Church Building Committee was unable to find the means needed to build the church, it made an appeal in 1864 to the Prince of Wales and his consort, the Danish Princess, Alexandra.  It was the princess who managed to raise the funds to build the church, and also provided an attractive site for its construction. The opening of the church on September 17, 1887 included a large contingent of European monarchy: The Prince and Princess of Wales, King Christian IX and Queen Consort Louise of Denmark, Tsarina Maria Feodorovna of Russia, and George I and Olga of Greece. Also present were the entire diplomatic corps, Ministers, members of the Army and Navy, church officials, and representatives of the clergy including Greek, Russian, and Roman Catholic Priests. After the consecration, the Prince and Princess of Wales hosted a luncheon onboard the Royal Yacht HMY Osborne, to which all those who had been closely connected with the realization of the church were invited.  The architect, who had designed a number of parish churches around England was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Royal Gold Medal in 1891.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. View of St. Alban’s Church from the Gefion Fountain. 2. The altar of the church. 3. Plaque commemorating the gift and support of Alexandra, Princess of Wales and Queen Consort of England, married to King Edward VII. Center, Top: Detail: Stained glass window with heraldic symbols. Center, Bottom:  Detail: Baptismal font. Right Column: 1. Silhouette of St. Alban’s Church as viewed from the pond at the Kastellet. 2. Entrance to St. Alban’s Church. 3. Baptismal font.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                        BACK TO MAP  PAGE