St Hans Church

St Hans Church was founded in the northernmost part of the medieval city of Odense. At that time, Odense only covered the area from Odense River in the south to Nørreport in the north at the end of the current Nørregade, which the church choir is adjacent to.
The first time Sankt Hans Church - or Sct. Michael's Church, as it was called in its earliest period, is mentioned in a preserved source in 1295.
In 1329, St Hans Monastery is mentioned. For over 200 years, the church and monastery were a single entity, but this ceased at the Reformation in 1536.

The church was built by the Johanite order.
The current vicarage served as a hospital at the time and is the only hospital of the Johanite order that has survived to this day.

Not much remains of the original church. In 1636 there was a major remodelling.
In 1878-80, the church underwent an extensive restoration, which included the current altarpiece.
The most recent renovation took place in 1997-98.

On these pages you can find some information about the history of the church building, both inside and out.