Ny Kirke is one of Bornholm’s four round churches and is located on the outskirts of the village of Nyker. The church dates from the 12th–13th century and is built of rough and split fieldstones, while the central pillar is made of the characteristic Bornholm Silurian stone known as Limensgadesten. The name “Ny Kirke” (“New Church”) has been used since the mid-1500s, but architecturally it is considered the youngest of the island’s round churches.
Inside the church are frescoes in the Early Gothic style (c. 1250–1300), depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ. The pulpit is decorated with woodcarvings by the Flensburg sculptor Hinrich Ringerink and portrays biblical scenes such as the Annunciation and the Nativity in Bethlehem. One of the church’s most remarkable artefacts is the plague tablet, showing the number of deaths during the plague epidemics of 1618 and 1654, along with a figure symbolising death.
The bell tower contains two bells: the smaller from 1639 and the larger from 1725. The church also houses a rune stone and several historic grave slabs, including a Romanesque gravestone with a relief cross.
Ny Kirke is not only a historical monument but also an active gathering place for services, concerts and other events. With its unique architecture and rich history, the church is a valuable place to visit for anyone interested in Bornholm’s cultural heritage.
