World Heritage Photos

Petäjävesi Old Church – A Masterpiece in the Finnish Forests

Petäjävesi Old Church is a striking example of northern wooden architecture, characteristic of the Scandinavian church architecture and a century-long tradition of log building, just like the wooden houses of Old Rauma. Located in the central part of Finland, the church was built between 1763 and 1765. The church was entirely built of wood without using metal nails; the logs are notched together and roof is covered by triangular wooden shingles. The church's bell tower was built in 1821 and connected to the church by a narrow passageway.

The interior of the Petäjävesi Old Church has remained largely unaltered. The unique carved pulpit dates from the same period as the church. Opposite the pulpit stands the precentor's raised platform; where, as the church lacked an organ, the precentor directed the music. In 1843, the travelling painter Carl Fredrik Blom created several works for the church, including a depiction of the Last Supper, a portrait of Moses with the Tablets of the Law, and a portrait of Martin Luther, shown with the New Testament under his arm. These oil paintings serve as reminders of the foundations of the Lutheran faith.

The Petäjävesi Old Church is an Evangelical-Lutheran church. Since a new parish church was built in 1879, the Old Church has not been dismantled; the church bells were left in the tower and the churchyard is still in use. Today, Petäjävesi Old Church is used for weddings, baptisms and concerts. Petäjävesi Old Church gained status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

www.werelderfgoedfotos.nl   © Copyright   World Heritage Photos

➔

➔

1. 

   Petäjävesi Old Church was built between 1763 and 1765 using centuries-old trees from the vast Finnish forests. The church stands on the banks of a lake near the village of Petäjävesi. The bell tower was built in 1820 and joined to the church by a passage. This sacred building has a Greek-cross plan; the four arms are equal in length. Because the church was situated on a headland between the Lakes Petäjävesi and Jämsä, the local population had to use wooden rowing boats (kirkkovene), somewhat resembling Viking ships, to attend Sunday church services. Petäjävesi Old Church was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.

2. 

   Petäjävesi Old Church is situated in a forested area in central Finland. The high roof is covered by triangular wooden shingles and resembles the Early Gothic style. At the entrance is a small storage room for weapons (asehuone), built due to the ever-present threat of an attack by wild animals, such as bears or wolves. Before entering, parishioners were required to store their weapons in this room, because carrying arms inside this sacred building was strictly forbidden. This Evangelical-Lutheran country church is one of the oldest wooden churches in Finland.

3. 

   The corner-joint constructions of the Old Church of Petäjävesi. The church is a fine example of traditional wooden church architecture in Scandinavia. Built entirely of wood, it was assembled using traditional joinery techniques; no metal nails were used. Wooden buildings in Finland and in other Northern European countries were often constructed in this manner. The Scots pine timber used for the construction has aged beautifully, giving it, particularly in the church's interior, a warm, reddish glow characteristic of ancient pine.
   

4. 

   Petäjävesi Old Church: Direct opposite the impressive pulpit stands the much simpler raised bench for the precentor. The altar is made entirely of pine. Above it hangs an oil painting from 1843 depicting the Last Supper. Since a new parish church was built in 1879, the Petäjävesi Old Church has not been used for regular services. The old wooden church was not dismantled; the bells were left in the belfry and the churchyard is still in use. Today, building is use for special events, such as weddings, baptisms and concerts.

5. 

   Petäjävesi Old Church: The wooden chandelier in the central section of the dome is crafted in the Baroque style, which was popular at the time. This octagonal vaulted dome reveals the skill with which the pine planks were joined together using wooden pegs (dowels). The ribs are decorated with red motifs. A second chandelier hangs near the altar. The entire church reflects the craftsmanship of the local artisans and artists of that era, many of whom contributed voluntary to its construction.

6. 

   Petäjävesi Old Church: This unique pulpit was carved entirely by hand in 1764 by master builder Jaakko Leppänen. It rests on a figure of Saint Christopher and is decorated with carvings of the twelve apostles and angels, specifically six-winged seraphim and two-winged cherubim. At the time, the wooden structure served as a perfect acoustic amplifier for the minister's voice. After all these centuries, the interior remains almost entirely original.

7. 

   As the Petäjävesi Old Church lacked an organ, a raised bench was built for the precentor. From this elevated position, his task was to lead the singing of psalms and hymns during services, allowing the congregation to join in. The bench was constructed so that the cantor stood with his back close against the solid pine walls; this wood acted as a natural sounding board. When he sang, the sound was reflected directly toward the congregation by the sloped vaulted ceiling.

8. 

   When the farming community of Petäjävesi built the church, they did so largely without official permission from the Swedish king (Finland was still part of Sweden at the time). They simply lacked the funds and the authorization for an expensive bell tower with heavy bronze bells. It was not until 1821, when the community had grown and become more prosperous, that they received official permission to build the tower. The church itself was built by Jaakko Leppänen; the bell tower was designed and erected 56 years later by his grandson, Erkki Leppänen.