Photo: David Stjernholm
Saturday, January 17, 2026, marks the official inauguration of Gredstedbro Church following its renovation, and the unveiling of a new altar ensemble by artist Tove Storch. The work now forms the visual and spiritual center of the church and was generously gifted by the Ny Carlsberg Foundation.
Created as a single, cohesive sculpture, the altar ensemble is composed of brass rods shaped like soft, draped threads. It takes its point of departure in the two central furnishings of the chancel – the altar table and the kneeler – which Tove Storch has transformed from traditional liturgical furniture into sculptural forms.
A central vertical line runs through the work, extending from the back wall of the chancel, through the altar and kneeler, across the church floor and out through the doorway. Guiding both body and gaze, the line draws visitors inward and upward while also reaching beyond the church itself. The brass elements rest heavily yet gently on surfaces, ending in hanging threads, while the kneeler’s untreated leather cushion is split at the center to allow the line to pass through and emphasize its journey.
With this commission, Storch engages with recurring themes in her practice, including gravity, invisible forces, and the relationship between the physical and the immaterial. By subtly bending familiar physical laws, the altar ensemble invites contemplation and presence, opening the church space to both sensory and spiritual experience.
