The present church dates from 1829, and was the work of a Danish architect, Christian Frederik Hansen. But the church has a far longer history, as the construction of the original Collegiate Church of St. Mary started in 1187, at the highest point in town Havn, now known as Copenhagen. The church is decorated by 13 sculptures, Christ and his apostles, designed by the famous Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen, whose museum is located a short walk from the cathedral.