Notable sights in St. Mary's Church

The Altarpiece

The altarpiece is from Germany, and was probably constructed at some point in the middle of the 15th century.  The altarpiece has two sets of doors that can stand open or be closed in different ways.  Depending on how the altarpiece is opened or closed, different scenes from the life of Jesus are presented.  

A completely open altarpiece presents eleven sculpted, painted and gilded depictions of scenes from the childhood of Jesus.  At the base of the altarpiece, there are sculptural depictions of the twelve disciples.

When the innermost set of doors is closed, 16 paintings with motives from the passion narrative (that is to say, the days leading up to Easter Sunday) are visible.  

When the altarpiece is completely closed, images of eight saints are visible.

The altarpiece is very special and is only closed and opened in accordance with special rules that follow the church year.  In 2016, the altarpiece underwent a restoration.  Read more about that process here.

The Pulpit

The pulpit was made in 1615 by sculptor Statius Otto, of Lüneburg, Germany.  It is a rich work of the renaissance, with inlays, painted reliefs and sculptural depictions of the apostles.

The Chandeliers

Several chandeliers hang above the central aisle.  The so-called “hatmaker’s chandelier” hangs at the very front of the church, in the chancel.  It was donated in 1653, by hatmaker Reinhold Brüning and his wife, Fennike von der Schurren.

Epitaphs

Epitaphs can be found throughout the church.  Many of these honor officers and famous local families, with names such as Bille and Giedde.

At the southern port, an epitaph memorializing one of Helsingborg’s first restaurateurs, Johan Ennes, his wife, Katharina Hoffman, and their six children can be found.  The Ennes family ran a restaurant where Elite Hotel Mollberg is located today.  There is also an epitaph commemorating Katharina Hoffman’s sister, Maria Hoffman, and her family.

A number of epitaphs can be found in the ambulatory, including an epitaph commemorating Else Nilsdotter and her husband Bertel Olsson Krämer, as well as alderman Johan Andersen.

Another noteworthy epitaph was commissioned by astronomer Tycho Brahe to commemorate his young daughter, Kristina , who died just before her third birthday.  An English translation of the epitaph’s Latin text reads:

When she passed away, Kristina left her utterly tender body here.  She who once was Tycho Brahe’s daughter.  She was certainly only a resident of this earth for a short time.  However, during that time, she revealed no shortcomings.  With her keen mind, she surpassed her gender, and with her manners, her age. Through pleasant conversation with her peers.  Thus, Nature hastily reclaimed the one that She had given.  In order that she would not, as an adult, be anything above average.  But she lives just as truly, and has overcome the obstacles of nature.  Rather than a brief time, her time is eternal.  As since she has won the heavenly good, she despises the earthly.  Through Christ, she is a righteous citizen of heaven.

She died of the plague in the Year of Our Lord 1576, on September 24.  She lived for 2 years, 11 months, 11 days and 11 hours. 

Death – the sooner the sweeter, the later the more bitter.

For Kristina, our glorious little daughter.  Better and more well-behaved than her age.

Her father made and presented this plaque for display.

Frescoes

Remnants of a fresco from the second half of the 15th century can be seen in the ambulatory.  In this fresco, three male saints are depicted – St. Magnus, who became a martyr in the 12th century; St. Brandanus, who lived during the 6th century and was a popular seafaring saint; and the Apostle St. Jacob the Elder.  There are additional fresco remnants behind the epitaphs that hang in the ambulatory.

The Piscina

There is a piscina in the southernmost wall of the ambulatory.  This was used as a sort of drain or sink.  When the silver from Holy Communion was washed, and when the baptismal font was cleaned, wine and water alike were disposed of in the piscina. 

Triumphal Crucifix

Above the chancel hangs the triumphal crucifix made in northern Germany around the year 1500.  In 1753, the crucifix was restored and a representation of a hill was added to its base, at the foot of the cross.  On it rests a painted skull, which is to represent both Adam (as the origin of humanity) and the spot on which Jesus was crucified (Golgotha, meaning “the place of the skull”).

Stained Glass Windows

There are ten stained glass windows in the church.  These were added late, between 1937 and 1959, and were painted by several different artists.  The oldest window, Mariafönstret (“the Mary window”) from 1937, was created by Einar Forseth and depicts Mary with baby Jesus, the angels and the magi on their way to Bethlehem.  The other windows were added during the 1950’s.  The window to the right of the Mary window was also created by Einar Forseth and depicts the first of the three articles of faith (“We believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth”).  This window presents an assortment of human creations, built over time - a pyramid, a sphinx, a Greek temple, a ship, the Eiffel tower and a rocketship.

The second and third articles of faith are also represented in two separate windows in the northern wall of the ambulatory.  These were created by Erik Olsson.

The southern wall of the ambulatory is home to several windows by Martin Emond.  These depict important historical events from the history of Helsingborg and St. Mary’s Church.  Included are images of the arrival of Bishop Absalon in Helsingborg in 1180 and the arrival of Jean Baptiste Bernadotte in Sweden via Helsingborg in 1810, among others.  Also pictured are the consecration of St. Mary’s Church, organist Dietrich Buxtehude by his organ, a burning Helsingborg in the middle of the 15th century, Helsingborg’s development as an industrial city during the 19th century, and much more.

In the “chapel of light,” in the church’s northwestern corner, are two windows created by Ralph Bergholtz.  These windows are called “The tree of life” and “The tree of knowledge.”  “The tree of life” offers depictions of childhood and family life.  “The tree of knowledge” depicts the struggle between good and evil.

In the early morning hours of May 24, 2022, a bomb attack on an adjacent building damaged some of the windows in the ambulatory of the church.  The restoration process is underway.

Text Josefine Sjöqvist

Translation Anna Ballan

Sources

Annika Lindfors, guide and communications coordinator at St. Mary’s Church 

Sankta Maria kyrka i Helsingborg by Torkel Eriksson