"Why do ship models hang in so many Danish churches?", many church goers and tourists have no doubt asked themselves. The baptismal font, the altar and the pulpit all have their functions during the service, but what is the function of the church ship?

Around 1300 ships models are to be found hanging in Danish churches. The oldest one is found i Ho Church in West Jutland where it has been since 1710. However, written evidence exists of church ships from 1536 in Landskrona (Sweden), and from 1560 in St. Olai Church in Elsinore (Denmark). It is unknown today whether church ships were also used in Catholic times.

In Denmark the first church ships appeared in the coastal villages, and from there the custom spread to the churches inland.

The possible reasons to hang a ship model in the church room may have been as a gift of:

Social status from a group of sailors or fishermen to decorate the church room.

Memory of individual persons or of memorable events.

Gratefulness donated by a person who has something to thank God for - such as a sea traveler safely returned after a long sea journey.

Decorating the church room and to express the symbolism between the human life and the ship during stormy and calm weather.