student of Erasmus. He was an early proponent of Lutheran reforms in Denmark, but later became disenchanted with Lutheranism as well, earning him the hatred of both religious communities. He wrote a chronicle of his turbulent time, but it was never published. A manuscript was discovered inside the walls of Skibby church, later published under the title Skibby Chronicle. Dissolution and after After the dissolution of the priory in 1536 during the Reformation, the Carmelites were turned out, and the premises were abandoned until 1541 when Christian III re-endowed it as the hospital of Helsingør (Vor Frue Hospital or Almindeligt Hospital), with enough income-producing properties to sustain it. It was continued in intermittent use as a hospital for the sick, the elderly, and the poor until 1916, when new premises were made available elsewhere. Also in 1541 a grammar school was established in the west wing, which continued until 1807. From 1930 a small number of single women lived in the buildings as an almshouse, the last of whom left in 1986. In 1989 the local church and episcopal authorities took over the buildings and still occupy part of them. In 1992 restoration work was carried out on the frescoes in the former conventual buildings. St. Mary's Church The first intention after the dissolution of the priory was to demolish the church, but it found use as a warehouse and as stabling for horses, which preserved it until 1577, when it was made available to the foreign community residing in Helsingør, mostly Germans from the cities of the Hanseatic League. It remained the "German" church until 1851, although from 1740 it was also the church for the garrison at Kronborg Castle. It became Helsingør's second parish church in 1819 when St. Olai's parish split into two, although sermons in German were delivered here, between Danish services, until 1851. A large number of German inscriptions remain to testify to the church's Hanseatic past. Between 1900 and 1907 the church and the conventual buildings were totally restored under Professor H.B. Storck, with particular attention to the restoration and conservation of the impressive frescoes on the walls and ceilings. St. Mary's is home to a magnificent Baroque organ built in 1634-1636 by Johan Lorentz. One of the organists was the famed composer Dietrich Buxtehude. It was thoroughly renovated from 1997 on by Marcussen & Søn. Sources Helsingørdomkirke.dk: Sanct Olai Kirke and Sanct Mariæ