Vrejlev Priory
Catholic·Denmark·Former priory, parts incorporated into a private estate·12th century
Vrejlev Priory was a 13th-century Premonstratensian nunnery located in Denmark, originally founded as a daughter house of Børglum Abbey. After a significant fire in 1200, it was rebuilt with residential cells, a refectory, and cloister, and its church was expanded and later remodelled in Gothic style. Following the Protestant Reformation, the priory was secularized and its buildings were gradually converted for use as a manor house, with parts of the original structure surviving to the present day.
Key Facts
- ›Founded as a Premonstratensian nunnery around 1165.
- ›Suffered a major fire in 1200, necessitating a complete rebuild.
- ›Its church was originally Romanesque and later remodelled in Gothic style.
- ›Secularized during the Danish Reformation and converted into a manor house.
- ›Parts of the original conventual ranges still exist today.
Romanesque, Gothic
- Original Bell Cast In 1400, Still Rung Today
- Church Remodelled In Late Gothic Style
- Surviving Conventual Ranges Incorporated Into A Modern Estate
Vrejlev Kloster
Bishop Stygge Krumpen, Skipper Clement, Claus Iversen Dyre, Jens Clausen Bille, Svend Malthe Holst
Fire In 1200, Danish Reformation, Skipper Clement's Rebellion
About Vrejlev Priory
Vrejlev Priory, also known as Vrejlev Kloster, was a former Danish priory that dates back to the 13th century. Situated in Vrejlev, near Vrå in the Region Nordjylland, it operated as a Premonstratensian nunnery between approximately 1165 and the Protestant Reformation.
History and Architecture
The priory was established as a daughter house by canons from Børglum Abbey. Its early construction utilized granite blocks. A devastating fire in 1200 led to a complete rebuilding, which included the addition of 12 residential cells for the nuns in the north range, a refectory and cellars in another range, and quarters for lay sisters. A cloister completed this four-sided complex.
The priory church, originally a three-aisled Romanesque structure built of brick after the 1200 fire, underwent significant remodelling around 1400. This Gothic-style renovation involved removing the outside nave, resulting in an asymmetrical church design. The existing tower and its bell, cast in 1400, were added during this period and remain in place today. The priory was led by a prioress, with a provost or prior overseeing secular matters, who was often a layman or local nobleman.
Dissolution and Later History
Vrejlev Priory faced considerable challenges during the Danish Reformation in the 1520s and 1530s. It required protection from Bishop Stygge Krumpen due to its inability to sustain itself. The priory was briefly occupied by rebels under Skipper Clement in 1534 and then granted to Claus Iversen Dyre. After the revolt was crushed, the priory fell to the crown, which secularized it. The priory church then became the parish church of Vrejlev.
In 1575, the estate was transferred to nobleman Jens Clausen Bille. Subsequently, it passed through a succession of noble families who adapted the conventual buildings into a manor house and estate. Since 1932, the former abbey has been owned by members of the Holst family. The modern Vrejlev Kloster estate incorporates two of the original conventual ranges that have survived, with the remainder having been demolished.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Vrejlev Priory founded?
Vrejlev Priory was founded around 1165 as a daughter house by canons from Børglum Abbey. It operated as a Premonstratensian nunnery from its founding until the Protestant Reformation.
What happened to Vrejlev Priory after the Reformation?
During the Danish Reformation in the 1520s and 1530s, the priory was secularized. The priory church became the parish church, and the conventual buildings were later remodelled by noble families for use as a manor house and estate buildings.
Are any parts of the original Vrejlev Priory still standing?
Yes, two of the conventual ranges have survived to modern times, while the rest of the original complex was demolished. The estate today incorporates these surviving structures.
What religious order was associated with Vrejlev Priory?
Vrejlev Priory was operated as a Premonstratensian nunnery. The Premonstratensian order, also known as the Order of the Canons Regular of Prémontré, is a Catholic monastic order.
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