Højelse Kirke - Køge
Højelse Church stands elevated above the surrounding landscape, and with its beautiful yellow colour it is visible from far away.
The church is consecrated to St. Michael, as inscribed on the largest of the two church bells. The two western bays of the nave are the oldest part of the church, dating back to the mid-12th century and built of large limestone ashlars.
The two bottom storeys of the tower were built c. 1350 in bands of limestone and medieval bricks, and at the same time the flat ceiling of the church was replaced by a vaulted ceiling.
About 100 years later another bay was added to the church, and the original chancel was replaced by an extension with a new chancel.
The frescoes of the church are also supposed to date from this period. Around year 1500, the tower was extended to its present height and the vestry to the north and the extension to the south were added. The nave itself has a lead roof, and the tower is tiled.
This means that, apart from the restorations required over the years, the church has stood fairly unchanged since c. 1500.
The pulpit from 1595 was restored in 2016 at the same time as the canopy. Both restorations with a very beautiful result.
The altar area was also renovated, the altarpiece was restored – it was painted in 1863 by F. L. Storch with ”Let the little children come to me” as motif. The old wooden altar floor, which has a beautiful pattern, has been cleaned and freshly varnished.