Christiansfeld timeline
2020
The 100th anniversary of the Reunion is celebrated
In 2020 the 100th anniversary of the Reunion will be celebrated with many events.
2020
2018 - 2019
Renovation of the God’s Acre
The Moravian cemetery, the God’s Acre, is being thoroughly renovated 2018-2019. The renovation has been funded by:
A.P. Møllerfonden and Augustinus Fonden.
2016
Renovation of the Church Hall
The Moravian Church, the Hall, was thoroughly renovated.
The renovation was funded by Augustinus Fonden, Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen (the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces) and by the Moravian Church.
2016
4th July 2015
Christiansfeld was appointed UNESCO World Heritage site
On the 4th July 2015, Christiansfeld was appointed World Heritage site by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
This happened at the convention of the UNESCO Committee in Bonn.
1st January 2007
Christiansfeld became part of Kolding Kommune (the municipality of Kolding)
As a consequence of the municipality merger in 2007 Christiansfeld became part of Kolding Kommune (the municipality of Kolding).
1st January 2007
2002
Renovation of Christiansfeld
In 2002, a comprehensive renovation of the historic buildings and streets in Christiansfeld began.
1972 - 1977
Renovation of the Church Hall
In the period 1972-1977 the Danish national building inspection authority, Statens særlige Bygningssyn, had the Church Hall renovated with the intention of restoring the exterior and interior of the church to the original state of the building as it was after the extension in 1796.
1972 - 1977
10th July 1935
The Reunification memorial stone was erected
At the 15th anniversary for the Reunification, the Reunification memorial stone was erected at the Reunification Square (Genforeningspladsen) in Christiansfeld.
9th April 1940 – 5th May 1945
World War II
9th April 1940 – 5th May 1945
10th July 1920
The Reunification
On the 10th July 1920, King Christian X rode across the old border north of Christiansfeld. At a devotion in Tyrstrup Church, the King spontaneously kneeled down at the altar.
10th February 1920
Referendum on nationality
On the 10th February 1920, the inhabitants in Southern Jutland, zone 1, voted on nationality.
In Christiansfeld, the votes in favour of Danish nationality were 67%, while the percentage in Tyrstrup parish was 93%.
10th February 1920
11th November 1918
The end of World War I
On the 11th November at 11.00 the armistice agreement took effect and thus officially ended the First World War.
Next to Tyrstrup Church there is a memorial stone carrying the names of the locals who were killed in this war.
1917
Where is the church bell?
In 1917, the Moravians had to deliver one of the bells of the Church Hall to the German authorities. It was meant to be remelted and turned into cannon balls.
Luckily, this was not effectuated and the bell was returned to the church in 1919.
1917
1st August 1914
World War I breaks out
Just like all other towns in Schleswig, Christiansfeld had to send the young men from the town to war.
1907
Fire station and museum
The white building was erected which today is the premises of Szocska Living. Originally, the Moravian community used it as a fire station, museum and school.
1907
4th March 1899
Christiansfeld got a train station
On the 4th March 1899 a train line between Haderslev and Christiansfeld was established. It was called “æ kleinbahn” (the small railway). The train line was shut down again on the 25th June 1932.
18th July 1864
The armistice agreement was signed
On the 18th July 1864 Colonel Kauffmann and Lieutenant-Colonel von Stiehle arrive at the Moravian Hotel in Christiansfeld with authority to negotiate the armistice.
At 3.00 in the morning, the armistice agreement could be concluded and signed.
Today it is possible to stay overnight in the Armistice Room at the Moravian Hotel.
18th July 1864
1864
The town was split
During the war in 1864, the Moravian community was split. Some members felt Danish while others wanted to be included in the German League, but in the Church, the disputes were set aside because the faith was a common matter.
The church served as camp hospital for wounded soldiers from both sides.
1862 - 1863
Tyrstrup Church was built
On the 23rd February 1862, the community in Tyrstrup took leave of their old roman church from the 13th century, which they tore down in order to build a new and bigger church that was inaugurated on the 3rd October 1863.
1862 - 1863
1848 - 1850
The Three-year War
The Church Hall served as a camp hospital for wounded soldiers from both sides.
The Danish soldiers were buried on the God´s Acre in a mass grave marked with a black cross. The German soldiers were buried among the Moravian brothers and their tombstones have been marked with a white colour.
The dead soldiers were buried on the cemetery of the Moravian community because they were under the care of the Moravians when they died.
1st April 1803
A town built within 30 years
Christiansfeld celebrated its 30th anniversary. At this time, the town was practically completed.
1st April 1803
1794
Establishment of water supply
In 1794, the Moravian community established water supply for the town. The water was led from natural sources in the nearby wood, Kohaveskoven, through hollowed oak logs to the well on the Church Square. From here, the water was distributed to all other wells in town.
1792
The Moravian soap factory was established
In 1792, the Moravian community established a soap factory at Lindegade 18.
1792
1788
Spielwerg & Comp. was built
In 1788, the Moravian community built the Commercial House Spielweg & Comp. On the same building site, a smaller back building was erected in which a tobacco factory was established. Later on, the Commercial House was expanded.
1784
The girls’ boarding school was built
In 1784, the girls’ boarding school got its own separate building. Since 1775, girls had received lessons in the first house of the town. The school had great success until the end of 1864, when the region became German territory. In 1890, the school was closed due to insufficient attendance.
1784
1784
The boys’ boarding school was built
In 1784, the boys’ boarding school got its own building. Since 1775, boys had received lessons in the Brothers’ House. The school had great success until 1864, when the region became German territory. In 1891, the school was closed due to insufficient attendance.
1783
The bakery of honey cake baker Achtnicht was established
In 1783, Heinrich Benjamin Martin Achtnicht established a bakery, in which he started the production of honey cakes. Originally, Achtnicht was a wig maker, but he was forced to change his business because no one in Christiansfeld and surroundings was using wigs.
1783
1781
Stove builder Abraham Goll’s house and workshop was built
In 1781, stove builder and potter Abraham Goll built his house and workshop at Lindegade 44. Christiansfeld is famous for these stoves, and they are still produced at the very same address.
1778
The Engine House was built
In 1778, the Moravian Engine House was built at Nørregade 9. At the same time, a fire brigade was established. The Moravian fire brigade helped extinguish the great fire at Koldinghus Castle in March 1808.
1778
1776
The Church Hall was built
In 1776, the Moravian community builds the Church Hall. Until this time, the community had used the first house in town as church, but now it had become too small. The growing community expanded so much that also the Church Hall became too small and had to be extended later on.
1783-1784
The Pharmacy was built
In 1783-1784, the Moravian community built its pharmacy at Lindegade 21. The Moravian community had a pharmacy in this building until 1937, when it was taken over by the Danish state. The building was used as a pharmacy until 2010.
1783-1784
1st April 1776
The foundation stone for the Sisters’ House was laid down
On the 1st April 1776, the Moravian community began the establishment of the Sisters’ House. At this time, there was only capital available to build the western part of the main building. Later on, the eastern part of the main building was erected in 1780 in order for the front door to be placed in the middle of the front. Later on, the building was extended three times by side wings and with workshops in the courtyard.
14th April 1774
The foundation stone for the Brothers’ House was laid down
On the 14th April 1774, the Moravian community began the establishment of the Brothers’ House – the home of the unmarried brothers. This building was inaugurated on the 18th November 1774.
14th April 1774
6th August 1779
The foundation stone for the Widows’ House was laid down
On the 6th August 1779, the Moravian community laid down the foundation stone for the Widows’ House that was completed by the 31st August 1780. Later on, the Widows’ House was extended by a west wing in 1797-1799.
1774
The first double house was built
In 1774, the Moravian community built the first double house (Lindegade 30-32). For years to come, this double house was the most common family house
1774
2nd April 1774
The Moravian cemetery, the God’s Acre, was inaugurated
On the 2nd April 1774, the Moravian community inaugurated its cemetery, the God’s Acre. The cemetery is divided into a Sisters’ side towards east and a Brothers’ side towards west. The first grave (carrying the consecutive number 1) belongs to an infant that did not survive the journey from Zeist to Christiansfeld.
The God’s Acre became scheduled in 1988.
3rd November 1773
"The first house" was inaugurated
On the 3rd November 1773, the assembly hall in "The first house" was inaugurated. At this time, the guest house (hotel) of the community had already been taken into use long ago by the artisans from out of town who helped build the town.
3rd November 1773
August 1773
The Minister’s House and the Principal’s House were completed
At the end of August, after a building period of almost five months – these two private houses were inaugurated, and these leading figures left the residence in the farmhouse of Tyrstrupgård.
1st April 1773
The foundation stones for the four first houses were laid down
On the 1st April 1773, the foundation stones for four buildings were laid down: The first Moravian assembly hall ("The first house"), the Minister’s house, the Principal’s house and the Moravian guest house (the hotel).
1st April 1773
10th December 1771
King Christian VII signed the concession
On the 10th of December 1771, King Christian VII signed the concession that gave the Moravian community permission to establish Christiansfeld. The concession granted the Moravian community a series of privileges such as a grant of 10% of the building costs for all buildings established within the first decade, exemption from taxation, military service and from the guild system and last but not least freedom of religion etc.
23rd of September 1771
The Moravian community bought the royal estate of Tyrstrupgård
The Moravian community bought the estate of Tyrstrupgård from King Christian VII together with its land on which the Moravians later intended to establish Christiansfeld.
23rd of September 1771
1768 - 1769
King Christian VII visited Zeist
While Christian VII was on an educational journey together with Struensee, one of the towns they visited was the Dutch Moravian town of Zeist. Struensee was very enthusiastic by the flourishing economy and trade and wanted such a town to be established in Denmark as well.
1722
Refuge with Count Zinzendorf
In 1722, a small group of refugees from the present Czech Republic fled into Saxony where they were offered asylum by the German imperial count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf.
Here, they established the first Moravian town ever called "Herrnhut", which means "under the Lord’s guardianship" and at the same time "on guard for the Lord".
Later on, Zinzendorf became the leading figure in the renewed Moravian Church.
1722
1618 - 1648
The Moravian Church was almost wiped out
The Moravian Church was almost wiped out during the religious wars that were fought 1618-1648, since they were persecuted by both Catholics and Protestants.
1415
The first Moravian Church
In 1415, Jan Hus is burnt as a heretic in Konstanz, because he had criticized the misuse of power and theology by the Catholic Church. As a consequence of his execution and martyr’s death different movements arose – including the first Moravian Church.
1415