Church events before 1850 - past centuries
It is considered certain that King Svend Estridssøn was able to go to church in Slangerup, when he periodically lived there from the mid-1000s. It is inconceivable that such a religiously committed man, who initiated the parish and stift division of the country, was not a practicing Christian. His son, Erik, who was born here, must of course also have been baptized in the town. Naturally there has been clergy in the city. So it is likely that St. Mikael's Chapel was built in the mid-1000s. Skt Mikael's Chapel might be the oldest field stone church building in Slangerup. The king has wanted a construction worthy of a king, and has therefore been behind the construction of a small church on the hill that required removal of part of the old bronze age construction on the spot.
Around 1100 Skt. Mikael's Chapel
Excavations in the 1970's shows that the first stone building at the current church site was a chapel with apse where apsis door today is located. According to curator Græbe this stone building was constructed a little later than 1100. The chapel was later replaced by a village size church, which through the following centuries was extended several times, and in the early 1400's had a tower added.
1411 Inauguration of former Skt. Mikael's Church after reconstruction
On November 13th, 1411, the former Skt. Mikaels Church was inaugurated after renovation or construction of a tower, whose lower part is seen in the current church tower. On bell-ringers loft of the current tower, one can still see the level at which the former bell-ringer loft was siting.
1573 City Church said to be Heavily Dilapidated
This year it was said that the City Church - that is, the former St. Mikhael's Church - and not the convent church - was very dilapidated, and it had so little income that they did not cover maintenance of it.
1576 Churches on Sjælland give economic Support to the Church in Slangerup
On September 29th, 1576, the City Church in Slangerup was granted 1 Danish mark from each church on Sjælland. The church was so small that the congregation had to stand in the churchyard during Sunday service. At that time is was mandatory to go to church service on Sundays in Denmark.
1587 The King give the City a loan of 1000 Rigsdaler to a new church
1588 Inauguration of current St. Mikhael's Church in Slangerup
Possibly the church was first inaugurated the following year. Arne Sundbo writes in his book about Slangerup, that the church on February 6th, 1589 was so complete that it was only missing a small steeple to a bell. The architect and builder Hans von Stenwinckel wanted the church to have a small steeple to a bell on the middle of the nave ceiling - just like the Margrethe steeple on Roskilde Cathedral.
1593 King forgives half of the Loan towards the new church
On August 24th, 1593, the King waived the 500 rigsdaler, which had not beem paid back of the loan towards the new church. This happened so the city could pay the architect and builder Hans von Sten Winkel, who had repeatedly asked the king ensure that he got his payment from the city - something the King was apparently annoyed about.
1615 Fine of 5 Rigsdaler for Disturbance at the Priest residence
One of the city's accountants, Jens Møller, had a tendency to libel and violence. This year he was fined 40 Rigsdaler for twice haggling with the city mayor and 5 Rigsdaler to be given to the poor for disturbances at the minister Hans Pedersen Tikøb's residence.
1620 Churches on Sjælland again give support to the Church in Slangerup
In 1620 a tax was imposed on the churches on Sjælland to support the purchase of a rectory for the priest in Slangerup. The church bought the rectory on April 24th, 1620, and proof of this is still preserved. This rectory served the parish for the next 200 years. It was located north of the church in Præstestræde - the current Kannikestræde. The land was 41 cubit against the street and 125½ cubit deep. A cubit is an ancient measure of length equal to about 63 centimeters or two feet. A few years after the purchase Præstestræde was paved the modern way, ie with gutters along the houses on both sides of the street. In 1759 additional land was purchased, and the rectory got an exit towards Kongensgade.
1624 Fine of 20 Rigsdaler for showing up Drunk at Church
City treasurer Jens Møller continued to have difficulty controlling himself, and this year it resulted in a fine of 20 Rigsdaler for insults towards the mayor and for showing up drunk for church.
1634 Sherriff Frederich Urne donates a baptismal font to the Church
Sherriff Frederich Urne donated this year a baptismal font to the church. It is the baptismal font still used in church today, and on the large dish in the baptismal font is written "Dete Becken Høer For Sangte Michels Kieche Slangerup 1634". Frederich Urne stated in a letter dated January 2nd, 1632 "I, Frederich Urne to Bregentved, Royal Majesty commander of Kronborg and Frederiksborg". Bregentved is one of the largest estates in central Sjælland near Haslev. The current main building is however constructed after the time of Frederich Urne.
1732 Pietism moving into Skt. Mikael's Church
This year pietism came to Skt. Mikael's Church with the colorful pastor Ditlev Gotthard Zwergius.
1745 Church receives money board for collection of a rich merchant
In 1745 merchant Boie Nielsen and wife Maren Nielsdatter Gad donated on the occasion of their daughter's wedding with Lars Granberg a money board showing dogs licking Lazarus' wounds to Slangerup Church. This money board still exists in the church.
1827 East gable of tower crashing
1827 East gable of tower crashing In1827 the east gable of the tower crashed into the church. In the subsequent reconstruction the upper part of the tower was reinforced with jernankrer, as those found in many medieval buildings. In the tower in Skt. Mikael's Church these jernankrer are placed almost below the roof. In the years before the crash, which is not known to have cost human lives, one had oberserved significant cracks in the towers east gable. Experts in church buildings today points out that the tower's lower and older part, dating from the church before 1588 are built better and more carefully than the newer upper part. Perhaps the city's men who financed the church building in the years just before 1588, were a bit too busy and had too little money. Several things could indicate this. Among others things several years went by after the new church building's inauguration in 1588 before the buillder and architect Steenwinckel the Elder had his payment.