Odense cathedral asks public to donate gold for new bishop’s robe

Odense Cathedral has appealed to residents of Funen to donate unwanted gold to help create a new bishop’s robe, specifically for a gold clasp, DR Nyheder reports.

The cathedral announced the request in a press release, explaining that the current robe—tailored for the previous bishop—cannot be worn by the newly appointed Bishop of Funen, Mads Davidsen, who took office in 2023.

Sognepræst Nicolai Røge told DR Nyheder that sourcing gold from the local community makes sense for a garment intended to serve the diocese for decades. “This is a gift to the people of Funen,” he said. “The bishop will use it for hopefully the next 100 years, and of course people should have the chance to be part of that.”

The clasp will be cast in 18-karat gold, weighing approximately 170 grams—the equivalent of around 50 gold rings. Within hours of the appeal, the cathedral received its first donation: a pendant from a necklace. “We’ve already had several more people reach out to donate their gold, so it’s going wonderfully,” Røge said.

Those wishing to contribute can drop off gold at the cathedral’s parish office.

Photo: Youssef Pries Ayoub, DR Nyheder