Religious sites in Finland
The Church of St. Michael
Keminmaa old church is northest medieval church in Finland (built in 1520-1553) and one of the latest ones built before Reformation. The paintings on the ceiling depict the sufferings of Christ; they date from 1650. The pictures of saints on the walls, the baptismal font and the holy-water font date from the Catholic times. The bier and stocks located in the church porch as well as the black pew standing inside the churc ...
Founded: 1520-1553 |
Location:
Keminmaa, Finland
Ulvila Church
The Ulvila Church, dedicated to St. Olaf, is one of the most significant medieval buildings in Finland. The first church was built probably in 13th century to Liikistö, which was a local trade centre. According old documents the graveyard around the church was consecrated in 1347 and church was burnt badly in 1429. Historians believe that the present stone church was built after that between 1495-1510.There are sever ...
Founded: 1495-1510 |
Location:
Ulvila, Finland
Sauvo Church
The medieval church of St. Clemens in Sauvo was built to present three-aisle outfit probably in 1460s or 1470s. First record of the Sauvo Church in Turku Cathedral documents dates back to the year 1346, but there have been several wooden churches before even from the beginning of 13th century. Many renovations were made to the church during 17th century, but the interior is very well-preserved. Mural paintings are from th ...
Founded: 1460-1480 |
Location:
Sauvo, Finland
Church of St. Michael
Paimio parish dates back to the 14th century. The present church was built in 1681-1689 to replace the previous wooden church. It’s one of the rare stone churches built in the 17th century in Finland. The interior was renewed in 1748-1756 and partly again in 1863. The central altarpiece was painted by R.W. Ekman in 1865, and the paintings of the Apostles near the organ were painted in 1751. The present vicarage was ...
Founded: 1681-1689 |
Location:
Paimio, Finland
Kokemäki Church
Kokemäki Church was built between 1780-1786 and named after Gustav III, the King of Sweden. It was designed by J. Sytti an C. F. Adercrantz. The original church was expanded to the present cruciform shape in 1886. The altarpiece is painted by S. Tvoroschnikoff and it’s based on Rafael’s (1483-1520) masterpiece with the same name.On Christmas eve 1882 Kokemäki church was full of people when suddenly a ...
Founded: 1780-1786 |
Location:
Kokemäki, Finland
Jurmo Chapel
First seaman chapel was built to Jurmo probably in the 12th century and it has been a center of near archipelago people for centuries. According the legend Jurmo residents assisted ships to wreck purposely and robbed their cargo in the 16th century. That’s why Gustav Vasa, the king of Sweden, ordered to destroy the whole island and all inhabitants. All forests were burnt and only couple of local people survived aliv ...
Founded: 1846 |
Location:
Länsi-Turunmaa, Finland
The Church of the Rural Congregation of Heinola
The cruciform-shaped church of the Heinola Rural Congregation dates back to the year 1755. The wooden church was probably built by August Sorsa. The bell tower was completed in 1834.
Founded: 1755 |
Location:
Heinola, Finland
Haukipudas Church
The first church in Haukipudas was probably built in the Middle Ages and it was located to the Kello village. The church or chapel was mentioned in the letter dated back to the year 1488 (found from the Vatican archives of Pope Innocent VIII).The present wooden cruciform church was completed in 1764. It is designed by Matti Honka and built by Jaakko Suonperä. Originally Haukipudas church was named as Ulrika’s C ...
Founded: 1762-1764 |
Location:
Haukipudas, Finland
Vöyri Church
Vöyri church is the oldest still used wooden church in Finland. It was completed in 1626 and enlarged to the cruciform shape in 1777. The most well-known artefact is a medieval crucifix made probably in Lübeck between 1375 and 1400. There's also an altar made in in the late 1400's.According archaelogical excavations there has been a medieval stone sacristy situated in the same site as the current church. There are also ...
Founded: 1626 |
Location:
Vöyri-Maksamaa, Finland
Himanka Church
Himanka church is designed by church master Jacob Rijf and it was completed in 1794. The present appearance of this wooden cruciform church dates from the restoration made in 1897. The altarpiece was painted by Johan Gustav Hedman in 1845.
Founded: 1794 |
Location:
Kalajoki, Finland
Sammatti Church
The Sammatti Church is one of the oldest wooden churches still in year round use in Finland. It was constructed by Mickel Jöransson in 1754-55. This is the third church for the Sammatti congregation. First information on Sammatti as a locality dates back to 1406. As a chapel of the Lohja parish, Sammatti has existed since the end of the 16th century. It became its own parish in 1951. Even though the current church looks ...
Founded: 1754-1755 |
Location:
Lohja, Finland
The Church of St. Lawrence
The Church of St. Lawrence was built in the 1380s to replace an earlier wooden church. The tower has been added in 1467, and the wall paintings are from the beginning of the 16th century. The church has been reconstructed in the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century. The remodeling has been done in the 19th century. The altarpiece was painted by B. Reinhold in 1876. The bell dates from the beginning of the 13 ...
Founded: 1380-1420 |
Location:
Eckerö, Finland
The Church of St. Olaf
The Church of St. Olaf in Sysmä was built during the first two decades of 16th century. First records of the church in Sysmä date back to the year 1398. There may have been two churches before the present one. The north and south walls were dismantled in 1832-1835 when the church was converted into cruciform plan according to design by C.L. Engel. The belfry was built in 1845.
Founded: 1510-1520 |
Location:
Sysmä, Finland
Vanaja Church
The Church of Vanaja is one of the smallest medieval churches in Finland. It was built probably between 1490-1510. Vanaja is one of the oldest parishes in Häme and it's quite probable there have been couple of wooden churches before the present one. There are many beautiful details and decorations inside the church, for example an exterior pulpit in stone wall and arm paintings of two noble families.
Founded: 1490-1510 |
Location:
Hämeenlinna, Finland
Kokemäki Stone Sacristy
The sacristy (built probably between 1500-1540 or 1540-1560) was supposed to be the first part of a planned stone church. The plan was never finished.
Founded: 1500-1560 |
Location:
Kokemäki, Finland
Tenhola Church
The first record of Tenhola parish is from the year 1329. Tenhola medieval stone church was built probably in 1460-1480. It has a richly furnished interior, for example crucifix of about 1470, 14th century triumphal cross and 17th century wall paintings.
Founded: 1460-1480 |
Location:
Raasepori, Finland
Kalanti Church
The Kalanti stone church, today part of Uusikaupunki city, was built between years 1430 and 1450. The interior is covered with famous wall paintings signed by Petrus Henriksson in 1470s. The oldest altarpiece in Finland was originally in the church of Kalanti. It was made by German master Francke in the beginning of 15th century and stood in Kalanti church until 1883. According the local legend, collected in the 19th cent ...
Founded: 1430-1450 |
Location:
Uusikaupunki, Finland
Masku Church
The Masku Church, built probably in 1490-1510, and surroundings represents one of the oldest parishes in Western Finland. The Masku parish was mentioned first time in 1234. The Mural paintings and pulpit date from the 17th century. There are also several medieval artefacts like crucifix and Silesian altarpiece located inside the church. Near the church is also "Humikkalan kalmisto", an Iron Age burial ground. Finnish Nat ...
Founded: 1490-1510 |
Location:
Masku, Finland
Raisio Church
The Raisio Church was built between years 1500 and 1520. The church is dedicated St. Martin, a medieval Catholic saint. His picture is also placed in the Raisio city coat of arms. The oldest artefact in church is the triumph crucifix from the 14th century. The wall paintings are mostly from the 17th century.
Founded: 1500-1520 |
Location:
Raisio, Finland
Pyhämaa Churches
The Sacrification Church of Pyhämaa was built in 1642-1650. It’s one of the oldest still existing wooden churches in Finland. Inside the church the walls are decorated with paintings (made in the 17th century) relating to biblical events. Next to the Sacrification Church is the New Church of Pyhämaa, which was built of stone in 1804. Both churches are open to the public in summertime.
Founded: 1642-1650 |
Location:
Uusikaupunki, Finland