Dette er cache nr. 3 i en lille serie om Gjøl.
Det var almindeligt at ejerne af Birkumgård ved deres død blev begravet på de fornemste steder i kirken, så nær alteret som muligt, det være sig i gulvet eller i det nuværende sakristi, som oprindeligt netop var bygget som gravkapel for Birkumgårds ejere. Men da godsejerparret Cecilie og Carl Johannes Bruun nåede støvets år, var der ikke plads for dem i kirkens gravkapel, for her lå jo i to egetræskister C. j. Bruuns forældre, så Cecilie og Carl Johannes Bruun måtte se sig om efter andre muligheder for planlægning af deres begravelse. På den tid var det blevet moderne med private gravkapeller, så godsejerparret søgte kong Frederik VII og fik i 1863 kongelig tilladelse til at opføre deres eget gravkapel i skoven syd for Birkumgård.
Kapellet blev bygget, så det i måske 12 år stod klar, da Carl Johannes Bruun døde i 1876 og Cecilie i 1880. De blev hensat her i to sarkofager – cementkister. Forinden var de blevet portrætteret i stort format af en maler, så deres portrætter kunne pryde hver sit hjørne over deres kister.
Bag en slags alterbord med to store lys anbragtes et maleri af Den hellige Nadver som alterbillede. I øvrigt prydes rummet af gipsafstøbninger af Thorvaldsens Kristus (fra Københavns domkirke) og nogen af apostlene. De har virkelig formået at planlægge deres begravelse med stil og omtanke.
Foran kapellet ses i dag to store gravhøje, som hver bærer en mindesten med en tak fra egnens befolkning. Man mindes godsejerparret for deres store gavmildhed og retfærdighed. De gav deres tyende jord, som tak for lang og tro tjeneste, og de stiftede et legat for byggeri og drift af ”Legathuset” med fire lejligheder. Her kunne Birkumgårds folk bo på deres ældre dage med en årlig pension samt tørv og naturalier. ”Legathuset” har nu måttet vige pladsen for det moderne ældrecenter Kildevang – kaldet ”Rynkeby” blandt beboerne. De to høje siges at rumme godsejerparrets rideheste. Ved deres herrers død er de blevet slået ned og med seletøj og sadler har de efter gammel skik måttet følge deres herskab til de eventuelle himmelske ridebaner.
Men hvad med gravkapellets vedligeholdelse? Jo, også det havde godsejerparret tænkt på; for i 1878 stadfæstede kong Christian den IX et legat på kr. 3.150,- hvis renteafkast skulle klare vedligeholdelsen til evig tid. At man har anset renteafkastet for at være et rigeligt beløb til formålet ses af, at overskuddet også kunne bruges til "værdigt trængende i Gjøl sogn", så fattige - foruden af kommunens fattigkasse og kirkens fattigbøsse - nu også havde denne mulighed. Legatmidlerne og kapellets vedligeholdelse var "til evig tid" ifølge fundatsen overladt til en bestyrelse på to mænd valgt af sognerådet samt sognepræsten. Alt under tilsyn af provsten.
Det syntes alt sammen meget velgennemtænkt, blot havde man ikke taget højde for, at der forinden "evig tid" oprandt, kunne komme inflation!
Selv om Legathusets kapital og Kapel-legatet blev slået sammen i 1977, så udgjorde det i alt kun 50.000,- kr. og renterne på 7.500,- kr. årligt rakte kun til lidt rengøring, men til vedligeholdelse, så som kalkning, maling af dør og reparation af de farvede ruder, rakte de ingen vegne - hertil måtte bestyrelsen gå tiggergang til lokale pengeinstitutter og kommunens socialudvalg. Man må nok spørge, om det var på den måde, at godsejerparret havde tænkt sig at blive husket? Man drøftede problemet med provsten, der jo har det overordnede opsyn med gravsteder, og resultatet blev, at justitsministeriet ophævede legatet og kapellet blev overdraget til menighedsrådets ansvar, så kirkegården overtog vedligeholdelse af stedet som et gravsted. Hermed skulle kapellets fremtid være sikret - om ikke "til evig tid".
Bruuns kat går igen!
Der går forskellige sagn om mystiske hændelser ved "Det bruunske Kapel". Christiane Morisset Andersen fortæller i sin bog: "Gjøl en Limfjordsø", udgivet i 1987: "Hvis du går til kapellet”, sagde en mand med et smil til mig, ”ser du nok en svær grå kat. Du skal lægge mærke til, at i det ene af kapellets vinduer er ruden knust og glasstumperne faldet ud, som om nogen havde skudt i ruden indefra. Forklaringen er den, at Bruun ville af med sin kat, men da en kat har ni liv, måtte han skyde den ni gange. Nu kommer dyrets genfærd igen rundt om hans grav og udfordrer ham. Så skyder Bruun igen!!"
"Jeg traf ganske rigtig en grå kat i lunden omkring kapellet. Den så vild ud og rendte ved min ankomst. Og vinduet var knust. Men om det var med gevær eller sten, indefra eller udefra, skal man være klog for at finde ud af! Imidlertid siges det, at det ikke nytter at forny ruden.
Den bliver knust igen!"
Kilde: Kresten Vestergaard
Der kan være en del mugglere især om formiddagen, da det er et yndet sted for både de lokale dagplejere og den lokale børnehave.
Og ja, hun har selv set den knuste rude!
ENGELSK
This is cache no 3 in a small series about Gjøl.
It was common that the owners of Birkumgård, when they died, were buried on the grandest places in the church, as near the altar as possible, it be in the ground or in the current vestry, which was originally built as a chapel for the owners of Birkumgård. But when the priprietors Cecilie and Carl Johannes Bruun reached “the age of dust”, there were no room for them in the Church chapel, for here was of course, in two oak coffins, C. J. Bruuns parents, so Cecilie and Carl Johannes Bruun had to look for other options for planning their funeral. At the time, it had become modern with private chapels, so the proprietors sought King Frederik VII and was in 1863 granted Royal permission to build their own chapel in the forest south of Birkumgård.
The chapel was built, so it, for perhaps 12 years, stood ready, when Carl Johannes Bruun died in 1876 and Cecilie in 1880. They were put here in two sarcophaguses – cement coffins. Before they died, they had been portrayed in a large size by a painter, so their portraits could adorn each of its corners over their coffins.
Behind a kind of communion table with two large candles, a painting of the Holy Supper was placed as an altarpiece. In addition the room is decorated with reproductions of Thorvaldsen Christ (from the Copenhagen cathedral) and some of the apostles. They have really managed to plan their funeral in style and care.
In front of the chapel can be seen two large burial mounds, each of which bears a memorial with a thank you from the local population. The proprietors are remembered for their great generosity and justice. They gave their servant soil, as thanks for long and faithful service, and they founded a scholarship for the construction and operation of "Legathuset" which had four flats. Here the people from Birkumgård could live in their old days, with an annual pension as well as peat and kind. "Legathuset" has now had to give way to the modern center for senior citizens - Kildevang - called "Rynkeby" (wrinkle-town) among the residents. The two mounds are said to contain the proprietors riding horses. In their gentlemen's death, they have been killed, and with the harnesses and saddles, following old custom, they’ve had to follow their masters to the heavenly riding grounds. But what about the maintenance of the chapel? Well, also that the proprietors had thought of; because in 1878 the King Christian IX upheld a scholarship of 3,150, - kroner, whose interest would take care of the maintenance for all time. The fact that the interest was considered to be an ample amount for the purpose, is shown by the fact, that the surplus could also be used for "dignified needy in Gjøl parish" so the poor - in addition to the municipal poor relief and the Church poor box - now also had that possibility. The endowments and the chapels maintenance was "forever", according to the charter, left to a board of two men elected by parish council and the vicar. Everything with the supervision of the dean.
It seemed all very well thought out, only no one had taken into account, that before "forever" came, the inflation came!
Although Legathusets capital and the chapel-scholarship was merged in 1977, the total was only 50,000, - kroner, and the interest rates on 7,500, - kroner annually, ranged only for a little cleaning. But for the maintenance, such as liming, painting of the door and repair of the stained glass panes, they ranged nowhere – therefore the Board had to go begging to the local banks and municipal social services. You may ask if this was the way the proprietors had wished to be remembered. The problem was discussed with the dean, who had the overall surveillance of the graves, and the result was that the Ministry of Justice annulled the scholarship and chapel was transferred into the care of the church council. This should guarantee the future of the chapel - if not "forever".
Bruuns cat haunts the chapel!There are various myths about mysterious events, at "Det bruunske Chapel." Christiane Morisset Andersen says in her book: "Gjøl en Limfjordsø", published in 1987: "If you go to the chapel," said a man with a smile to me, "you might see a heavy grey cat. You have to notice, that in one of the pane windows in the chapel are broken and the glass pieces fallen off, as if someone had shot at the window from the inside. The reason is that Bruun wanted to get rid of his cat, but as a cat has nine lives, he had to shoot it nine times. Now, the ghost of the cat walks around Bruun’s grave and challenges him. Then Bruun shoots again! ”
"I saw indeed a grey cat in the puffins around the chapel. It looked wild and ran away when I arrived. And the window was broken! But whether it was with the gun or a stone, inside or outside, you must be wise to find out! However, it is said there is no use in renewing the window.
It will be crushed again! ”
Source: Kresten Vestergaard
There may be mugglers. Especially in the morning, as it is a popular place for both the local childminders and the local kinder garden.
And yes, she has also seen the broken pane!