Hull: Oldest overseas Danish Church marks anniversary

The church reopened in 1954 on the opposite side of the street from the previous destroyed building

The world's oldest overseas Danish Seaman's Church is marking 70 years since the original building was destroyed in a World War Two air raid.

The building in Osborne Street in Hull opened in 1871 as a place of worship for the city's Danish community and for visiting sailors.

The night before its 70th anniversary in 1941, it was flattened by German bombers.

It was rebuilt on the opposite side of the road in mid 50s Scandinavian style.

Now named Nordic House, the church is a thriving community centre and holds a popular Scandinavian Christmas market each November.

Its reconstruction will be marked with a special service on Sunday conducted by a pastor from Denmark.

The ceremony will feature a local opera singer performing a song by Danish composer Carl Nielsen.

The original St Nikolaj Danish Seamen's Church was a place of worship for Hull's Danish community

Church manager Charlotte Theill said a pastor had joked he hoped "nothing untoward happens on the evening before".

Referring back to 9 May 1941, Ms Theill said: "They were getting ready to celebrate.

"Luckily nobody was injured, but obviously the building was destroyed."

A mangled candelabra was recovered from the ruins of the original St Nikolaj Danish Seamen's Church. It was repaired and now sits on the new altar.

Alongside it is a fragment of stained glass from the old church, which was incorporated into the new windows.

With no resident pastor, church services rely on visiting Lutheran clergy from Denmark or elsewhere in the UK.

Ms Theill said the church still functions as a place of worship and is "open to anyone".

"We're calling ourselves a Scandinavian community centre," she said.

"Obviously a lot of people use the space, hire the the rooms for their own meetings or events."

Church manager Charlotte Theill said the church interior was "50s Denmark" in style

She described the church as "a little piece of home".

"It's wonderful coming to work and and just having a bit of Denmark here, I love that," she said.

"The lamps, the architecture, everything is 50s Denmark really. It's wonderful."