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Churches tell us much about an area's history. In the Middle Ages, churches were usually very small. The clergy were more like district health inspectors, travelling around their parishes to preach. The local population was far too scattered to have large churches in the villages and settlements. In the 1910s, however, the railways brought industrialisation in their wake and urban populations grew explosively. New churches were therefore built, often on top of the old ones. The churches in Skjoldbjerg, Hejnsvig and Grindsted, dating from 1917-23, are typical examples of churches built in this era.
The church in Billund on the other hand is a rare and exciting example of a completely modern church.
Billund Church was consecrated in April 1973 and forms part of Billund Civic Centre. The church itself seats 180 while the church hall seats 98. The pews, doors and organ are made of violet-stained oak. Vorbasse Church was originally a small Romanesque ashlar church with nave and chancel built in around 1200. It was considerably extended in the 16th century, when a transept and belfry were added to the west and the existing chancel and nave were heightened with bricks Grene Church, which is located 2-3 km south-west of Billund, was built in 1891 to replace an old medieval church, whose graveyard still exists (on the border to Hejnsvig Parish). Skjoldbjerg Church, is a chapel of ease under Vorbasse Church. It was designed by architect Harald Lønborg-Jensen and built in 1919-21 of split stone. It consists of an apse, chancel and nave with a belfry to the west and a porch to the south of the belfry. Filskov Church was designed by architect L. A. Winstrup and built in 1877 of rough stone, plastered with mortar. It originally contained a chancel and nave with a porch to the north. Grindsted Church was built in the Romanesque period of granite ashlar and field stones on granite foundations, and originally consisted of a chancel and nave. A granite ashlar and brick porch was added to the south door of the nave in the late Middle Ages. Hejnsvig Church is noticed by almost everyone who passes through Hejnsvig. At first glance, the latest additions to the church catch your eye: the nave, porch and belfry, which were built in 1918-19. Nollund Church, is a chapel of ease under Grindsted Church. It was designed by architect Hother Paludan and built in 1914. It consists of a chancel and nave and has a semi-detached belfry to the west and a polygonal extension to the north where the chancel meets the nave. Stenderup Church, is a chapel of ease under Ansager Church. Designed by architect Harald Lønborg-Jensen and built in 1909, it closely resembles Skovlund Church Sønder Omme Church was built in the Romanesque period of granite ashlar on granite foundations, and consists of a chancel and nave. The nave was extended in granite ashlar around the time of the Reformation. Urup Church , is a chapel of ease under Grindsted Church. It was designed by architect N. Christof Hansen and built in 1919. The church consists of a large apse-shaped chancel and a nave to the west with pitched roof and semi-detached belfry. Vesterhede Church,is a chapel of ease under Hejnsvig Church. It was designed by architect Jens Christian Kofoed and built in 1910 of brick. It consists of a pitched-roof nave to the west and a three-sided chancel.
Visit the Egtved Girl or one of the many other museums in the area.
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