The "Lapp Church" of Sodankylä is one of Finland's oldest wooden churches. It was built of logs by local labor in 1689.
The "Lapp Church" of Sodankylä has features of the building traditions of the Middle Ages. This modest church with its block-pillar construction has been preserved in almost its original condition, and is the best preserved wooden church in all of Finland. The log walls, the pulpit, the altar and the benches are all from the 17th Century. In the year 1700 the church ceiling was given a boarded vault. Previously this had been a triple-pitched ceiling like those of the peasant houses of the area. In 1739 an altar painting by Petter Bergström was acquired, and installed initially immediately above the altar. The most notable of later alterations to the interior is the Western gallery of 1780, followed by a window to the gallery one year later. The westernmost window in the South wall had to be moved a little to the East, due to the building of the gallery. Other windows were enlarged in 1800. The Church was almost in ruins before the repairs were started in 1926. In restoration work during 1995 the facades and roof have been returned to their condition in the 18th Century.
Size: 4960px × 3307px
Location: Sodankylä, Finland, EU
Photo credit: © Hannu Mononen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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