The Church

Built on the same plot as the House of Denmark, at 17 rue Lord Byron, the Danish Church of Paris, Frederikskirken, is the work of the same architect: Tyge Hvass.  

‍Although the church is also celebrating its seventiethanniversary this year, the presence of Danish Lutheran worship in Paris goesback much further. As far back as the 17th century, pastors sent to Danishdiplomatic missions held Lutheran services for their diplomats.

In 1876, a Norwegian-Danish committee was formed with theaim of building a Lutheran church for Norwegian and Danish immigrant worker sand craftsmen in France. Despite a request for financial support from the Danish Ministry of Culture, the church never saw the light of day.

It was in 1923 that the Danish Church Abroad became involved in France, organising regular Danish church services in the capital. The Danish community used to meet in Saint-Jean Lutheran Church on rue de Grenelle, but the desire to have its own church became increasingly pressing.

Following the demolition of the existing buildings on the plot of land acquired by the Danish state in 1948, the decision was taken to build the church on the same site as the House of Denmark. The foundation stone was laid on 18 October 1953 and the in auguration took place on 24 April 1955, in the presence of Queen Ingrid and King Frederik IX, who gave his name to the church: ‘Frederikskirken’. Funds for the construction came from privatecollections in Paris and Denmark, as well as from the Danish state.

With a capacity of 110 worshippers, the Danish Church of Paris, Frederikskirken, is a true home for the entire Danish community in Paris.