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Johan Valdemar Thorbjørn Beyer Christensen was born in Copenhagen in 1892. He graduated in theology in 1917 and was ordained the following year as assistant pastor at Maglegaard Church. From 1932 to 1962, he served at St. Andrew's Church in Copenhagen, first as assistant pastor and later as parish priest.
Alongside his work in the church, Christensen was also a sculptor. He continued modelling throughout his life, creating a number of portrait busts, including those of the first parish priest of St. Andrew's Church, Pastor Julius Steen, and Bishop Valdemar Ammundsen. He also created the bust of Anders Fonnesbech, which stood on the façade of the Fonnesbech department store in Copenhagen for many years, as well as portraits of the ballet dancer Nina Theilade and the actor Erling Schrøder in the role of Hamlet.
Nyborg Strand - A Place for Church Gaterings
In the early 20th century, Nyborg Strand was transformed from a Christian health retreat into a national meeting place for the Danish church. The initiative was led by, among others, Henry Ussing and C. Skovgaard-Petersen. Together, they organised the Nyborg Meeting from 1912 to 1940, gatherings that became highly influential in Danish church life.
The Nyborg Meeting remains a long-standing tradition at Nyborg Strand. It is still held every year in week 42, bringing together more than 250 people from across Denmark and from different generations for several days of inspiring talks, discussion, and fellowship.
Bronze
1946
54 x 53 x 35 cm
About the Artwork
Christensen's bust of C. A. Skovgaard-Petersen was created in 1946 and placed in the hotel's new entrance hall alongside Ludvig Brandstrup's bust of Henry Ussing.
The artwork can be found in the promenade between Bistroen and Fugleburet.
Priest, author, journalist, and lecturer (1866-1955)
After serving as a parish priest in rural Denmark for several years, Skovgaard-Petersen became principal of the Bible School in 1912. At the time, many theologians had begun studying the Bible from a historical and critical perspective, rather than through the traditional approach of the church. The Bible School was established to uphold the classical understanding of the Bible.
Skovgaard-Petersen had a remarkable gift for bringing the people and stories of the Bible to life - not only for theologians, but especially for ordinary readers and audiences. He travelled throughout Denmark, giving well-attended lectures on biblical themes.
When he began working with Henry Ussing in 1912, the Nyborg Meeting became an important centre for promoting the classical understanding of the Bible during a time of significant change. Over the years, thousands of committed Christians came to Nyborg Strand to listen, talk, pray, and, perhaps most importantly, sing together - as one of the later leaders of the meetings described it.
Skovgaard-Petersen was a widely travelled and highly knowledgeable man, with a particular interest in the lands of the Bible. He was anything but a conventional priest. Among many other activities, he contributed both to Children's Hour (Børnetimen) on the Danish State Broadcasting Service and to the newspaper Berlingske Tidende.
He wrote numerous books on biblical and church-related topics, one of which was even translated into Chinese. Titles such as The Importance of Faith for Those Seeking Success in Life, Biblical Characters, Money and People, The Eternal Word Through the Course of Time, and the popular The Book of Youth offer a glimpse into his thinking and his approach to faith.
Alongside his work on biblical teaching, Skovgaard-Petersen was active in several church organisations, including the Danish Bible Society, the Filadelfia Epilepsy Hospital and Community, the Danish Church Abroad, and the Danish Seamen's Church. He concluded his church career as Diocesan Dean of Roskilde.
