Pastor C. Bahnson (1845 – 1917)

Carl Bahnson was Pastor Lohmann’s successor from 1895 and a very popular pastor in Skive and Resen for 20 years. He had a poetic vein and was accepted for a play at the Royal Theater, which was disappointing. His posthumously published poetry collection Vandringsmandens Sange is widely recognized.

His background

Carl Tolstrup Bahnson was born in Viborg 26. September 1845 and was the son of Christian Frederik Adolf Bahnson, head teacher at the Cathedral School, and his wife Christiane, née Guldberg.

Carl Bahnson graduated from Viborg Cathedral School in 1863. He came to Copenhagen to study theology and a few years later he was accepted at Regensen. Here he made many good friends. He thrived both in academic circles and among artists and had a dream of developing his poetic abilities, which were seriously hampered by a morbid self-criticism that led him to discard much.

To make ends meet, he had to teach during his studies. He graduated in theology in 1870 and had no intention of becoming a priest, but returned for a number of years as a teacher at Borgerdydskolen in Christianshavn.

Playwright

In 1877, Carl Bahnson finally finished his drama “Erik the Fourteenth”, and it was performed at the Royal Theater in the 1878-1879 season, but only 7 times. Copenhageners dubbed it “Erik the Tiring”, it was never revived.

in 1879 he was awarded the Ancker Travel Grant and spent the winter of 1879-80 abroad, especially in Rome. He had previously been plagued by nervous headaches, but now the disappointment of the play’s reception and the strain led to a nervous breakdown that necessitated a month-long stay in hospital. He did not resume teaching until the late 1880s.

Priesthood

At the age of 45, he was given his first position as parish priest for Slotsbjergby and Sludstrup, Slagelse herreds provsti. He had married Johanne Nicoline Preetzann, 16 years his junior, who was born in 1861 on the manor “Frisenvold” near Randers. Her parents were landowner Sophus F. J. Pretzmann and his wife Caroline f. Flor. The vicarage and Slotsbjergby Church, supposedly the highest on Zealand, is located 4 km south of Slagelse.

Priest in Skive and Resen

In 1895, Bahnson was called to a much larger and more demanding position as parish priest in Skive and Resen. As Jutlanders by birth, the couple were looking forward to coming to Skive.

At that time, the vicarage was located at Resenvej No. 10, where a tablet in the wall read the dignified old invocation from Ps. 90: “Lord, You have been our dwelling from generation to generation”. The vicarage had a considerable garden, from which there was access to Havnevej through a small gate and further along a field path, and from the veranda you had a lovely view over the fjord to Højslev Kirkeby and the magnificent Bruddals hills rising above it.

Carl Bahnson was a born orator. With his stately appearance, his spiritual gifts of speech and his beautiful voice, he always gathered a listening and understanding congregation around him in church.
Just as his poetry was characterized by self-criticism, so was his ministry. Preparing Sunday sermons was a laborious task throughout his life as a priest. He started early in the week, yet on Saturdays he would emerge from his study and exclaim dejectedly: “I haven’t a thought for tomorrow”.

His words were also listened to outside the church. When King Frederik VIII and Queen Lovisa visited the city in 1908, he gave the official speech for the fatherland. Stiftamtmand Dybdal og Frue, who was present in his official capacity, said afterwards to Bahnson’s nephew: “Your Uncle Carl gave a speech you could have embraced him for”. Shortly after the visit, he received the Knight’s Cross.

One of Carl Bahnson’s friends from his youth was the painter, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts August Jerndorff, who in 1896-97 painted the altarpiece in Skive’s Red Church – he is also known for the altarpieces in St. Peders in Slagelse and Nykøbing Mors church. During these periods he lived in the city, and the pastor and his wife enjoyed their time together.

Widower, pastor and poet

In 1901, Carl Bahnson lost his young 41-year-old wife. She had already been ill and was operated on while they were on Zealand. Now she was ill again and there was nothing they could do. Pastor Bahnson never overcame his loneliness, but it opened up poetic sources again and his posthumously published – highly praised – poetry collection was completed after her death.

An example is the excellent poem :