List of medieval stone churches in Finland
This is a list of medieval stone churches in Finland. A total number of 104 fieldstone churches were built between the 13th and 16th century, of which 83 have been preserved. Numbers include the sacristies of uncompleted churches as well as three churches in Vyborg which is now part of Russia.
The construction years for each church are listed in accordance with Suomen keskiajan kivikirkot ('Finnish Medieval Stone Churches') by historian Markus Hiekkanen.[1] The book, first published in 2003, builds on the chronology first put forth in Hiekkanen's 1994 doctoral thesis "The Stone Churches of the Medieval Diocese of Turku: A Systematic Classification and Chronology."[2] Until Hiekkanen's research, which is based in statistical interpretation of field observations using "a systematic database of comparative criteria,"[3] most of the churches were generally considered 100–200 years older.
While Hiekkanen's dates represent those most frequently used by state museums[4] and the Finnish Heritage Agency, his work is not universally accepted and scholars have disagreed with various elements of his research, including his methods and certain dates offered. Åsa Ringbom of Åbo Akademi University, an art historian and one of the principal researchers of the Åland Churches Project, has offered dates for the construction of the stone churches of Åland that, in some cases, differ from Hiekkanen's by a century or more. Hiekkanen has consistently dismissed the interdisciplinary methods used by Ringbom and his colleagues – which include a combined study of written sources, stylistic dating, archeological finds, dendrochronology, and mortar dating, among other modes – and, conversely, Ringbom has called into question Hiekkanen's lack of transparency regarding his methodological principals and limited incorporation of data which fall outside of his model.[3]
The provinces in this list refer to the historical provinces of Finland, which were replaced by the regions of Finland in 1634, and differ from the former provinces of Finland, which were in use during 1634 to 2009.
The official international name for cities, towns and municipalities in bilingual Finland follows the naming of the majority language of that area. But using the other name version is equal. During historical period the naming was mainly the Swedish one. The list follows the main rule as giving the official name first. But also giving the name in the other official language in the following column. This is of significant help for the reader as the names might very a lot. Medieval churches are historical and that is the reason a few of the names in Swedish that are considered out of use nowadays are entered as this is the way the churches might originally be named in sources and literature.[5]
Number of churches by province
Province | Churches | Sacristies | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Finland Proper | 26 | 4 | 30 |
Tavastia | 13 | 6 | 19 |
Uusimaa | 14 | – | 14 |
Satakunta | 09 | 4 | 13 |
Åland | 13 | – | 13 |
Ostrobothnia | 07 | 1 | 08 |
Karelia | 04 | 1 | 05 |
Savonia | 0– | 1 | 01 |
Finland Proper
Church | Church name based on the other official language of Finland | Image | Original parish | Parish named based the other official language of Finland | Current municipality | Municipality in the other official language of Finland | Built | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Halikko Church | Swedish: Halikko Church | Halikko | (Swedish: Halikko) | Halikko | Swedish: Halikko | 1460–1475 | expanded 1813–1815 | |
Kalanti Church | Swedish: Kaland Church | ![]() | Kalanti | Swedish: Kaland | Uusikaupunki | Swedish: Nystad | 1430–1450 | |
Kimito Church | Finnish: Kemiönsaari Church | ![]() | Kimito | Finnish: Kemiö | Kimitoön | Swedish: Kemiönsaari | 1460s | |
Kisko Sacristy | Swedish: Kisko Sacristy | ![]() | Kisko | Swedish: Kisko | Kisko | Swedish: Kisko | 1510–1530 | |
Koroinen Church | Swedish: Korois Church | ![]() | Diocese of Finland | Diocese of Finland | Turku | Swedish: Åbo | 1266–1286 | foundations, destroyed 1396 |
Korpo Church | Finnish: Korppoo Church | ![]() | Korpo | Finnish: Korppoo | Pargas | Finnish: Parainen | 1430s–1440s | |
Laitila Church | Swedish: Letala Church | ![]() | Laitila | Swedish: Letala | Laitila | Swedish: Letala | 1460–1483 | |
Lemu Church | Swedish: Lemu Church | ![]() | Lemu | Swedish: Lemu | Masku | Swedish: Masku | 1460–1480 | |
Lieto Church | Swedish: Lundo Church | ![]() | Lieto | Swedish: Lundo | Lieto | Swedish: Lundo | 1470s–1480s | |
Marttila Sacristy | Swedish: S:t Mårtens acristy | Marttila | (Swedish: S:t Mårtens | Marttila | Swedish: S:t Mårtens | 1500–1540 | ruins | |
Masku Church | Swedish: Masku Church | ![]() | Masku | Swedish: Masku formerly in Swedish Masko | Masku | Swedish: Masku Formerly in Swedish Masko | 1490–1510 | |
Mynämäki Church | Swedish: Virmo Church | ![]() | Mynämäki | Swedish: Virmo | Mynämäki | Swedish: Virmo | 1425–1440 | |
Naantali Church | Swedish: Nådendals Church | Nådendal Abbey | Swedish: Nådendal Abbey | Naantali | Swedish: Nådendal | 1480s | ||
Nagu Church | Finnish: Nauvo Church | ![]() | Nagu | Finnish: Nauvo | Nagu | Finnish: Nauvo | 1430–1450 | |
Nousiainen Church | Swedish: Nousis Church | Nousiainen | Swedish: Nousis | Nousiainen | Swedish: Nousis | 1420s–1430s | ||
Pargas Church | Finnish: Parainen Church | ![]() | Pargas | (Finnish: Parainen] | Pargas | Finnish: Parainen | 1440s/1450s | |
Perniö Church | Swedish: Bjärnå Church | Perniö | (Swedish: Bjärnå | Salo | Salo | 1460–1480 | ||
Pertteli Church | Swedish: S:t Bertils Church | ![]() | Pertteli | Swedish: S:t Bertils | Salo | Salo | 1500–1520 | |
Piikkiö Sacristy | Swedish: Pikis Sacristy | Piikkiö | Swedish: Pikis | Kaarina | Swedish: S:t Karins | 1500–1560 | demolished, no remains found | |
Pöytyä Sacristy | Finnish: Pöytis Sacristy | Pöytyä | Swedish: Pöytis | Pöytyä | Swedish: Pöytis | 1500–1560 | demolished 1805, no remains found | |
Raisio Church | Swedish: Reso Church | ![]() | Raisio | Swedish: Reso | Raisio | Swedish: Reso | 1500–1520 | |
Rusko Church | Swedish: Rusko Church | ![]() | Rusko | Swedish: Rusko | Rusko | Swedish: Rusko | 1510–1530 | |
Rymättylä Church | Swedish: Rimito Church | ![]() | Rymättylä | Swedish: Rimito | Naantali | Swedish: Nådendal | 1510s | |
Sauvo Church | Swedish: Sagu Church | ![]() | Sauvo | Swedish: Sagu | Sauvo | Swedish: Sagu | 1460–1472 | |
St. Ann's Chapel | Swedish: S:t Annas Chapel | ![]() | Uskela | Swedish: Uskela | Salo | Swedish: Salo, Finland | 1500–1520 | demolished 1832, memorial 1953 |
St. Catherine's Church | Swedish: S:ta Catherin's Church | ![]() | Turku | Swedish: Åbo | Turku | Swedish: Åbo | 1440s–1450s | |
St. Mary's Church | Swedish: S:t Marie Church | ![]() | Maaria | Swedish: S:t Marie | Turku | Swedish: Åbo | 1440s | |
Taivassalo Church | Swedish: Tövsala Church | ![]() | Taivassalo | Swedish: Tövsala | Taivassalo | Swedish: Tövsala | 1425–1440 | |
Turku Cathedral | Swedish: Åbo Cathedral | ![]() | Archdiocese of Turku | Swedish: Archdiocese of Åbo | Turku | Swedish: Åbo | 1400s–1410s | |
Turku Dominican Church | Swedish: Åbo Dominican Church | Dominican Convent in Turku | Domincan convent in Åbo, Finland | Turku | Swedish: Åbo | 1430s | no wisible remains. Place known under present street | |
Vehmaa Church | (Swedish: Vemo Church) | ![]() | Vehmaa | Swedish: Vemo | Vehmaa | Swedish: Vemo | 1425–1440 |
Karelia
Church | Church name based on the other official language of Finland | Image | Original parish | Parish name based on the other official language of Finland | Current municipality | Municipality in the other official language | Built | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dominican Church of Vyborg | Swedish: Dominican Church of Viborg | ![]() | Dominican Convent in Vyborg | Swedish: Dominican Convent in Viborg | Vyborg | Swedish: Viborg | 1481 | destroyed by fire 1738, rebuilt 1828-1833, destroyed by fire 1989 |
Franciscan Church of Vyborg | Franciscan Church of Viborg | Franciscan Convent in Viborg | Swedish: Franciscan Convent in Viborg | Vyborg | Swedish: Viborg | 1495–1497 | demolished 1741 | |
St. Mary's Church | Swedish: S:ta Maria Church, Fredrikshamn | Vehkalahti | Swedish: Veckelax | Hamina | Swedish: Fredrikshamn | 1430–1470 | destroyed by fire 1821, rebuilt | |
Virolahti Sacristy | Swedish: Vederlax Sacristy | ![]() | Virolahti | Swedish: Vederlax | Virolahti | Swedish: Vederlax | 1500–1530 | |
Vyborg Old Cathedral | Swedish: Viborg Old Cathedral | ![]() | Vyborg | Swedish: Viborg | Vyborg | Swedish: Viborg | 1435–1445 | ruins, destroyed 1940 |
Ostrobothnia
Church | Church name based on the other official language in Finland | Image | Original parish | Parish name based on the other official language in Finland | Current municipality | Munisipality in the other official language in Finland | Built | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alatornio Church | Swedish: Nedertorneå Church | ![]() | Alatornio | Swedish: Nedertorneå | Tornio | Swedish: Torneå | 1500–1513 | expanded 1794–1797 |
Isokyrö Old Church | Swedish: Storkyro Old Church | ![]() | Isokyrö | Swedish: Storkyro | Isokyrö | Swedish: Storkyro | 1513–1533 | |
Kaarlela Church | Karleby Church | ![]() | Kaarlela | Swedish: Karleby | Kokkola | Swedish: Gamlakarelby | 1500–1530 | expanded 1788–1789 |
Keminmaa Church | Swedish: Keminmaa Church | ![]() | Kemi | Swedish: Kemi | Keminmaa | Swedish: Keminmaa | 1520–1553 | |
Närpes Church | Finnish: Närpiö Church | ![]() | Närpes | Finnish: Närpiö | Närpes | Finnish: Närpiö | 1550–1555 | |
Pedersöre Church | Finnish: Different names during centuries Pietarsaaren maalaisseurakunta Church nowadays Pedersöre Church | ![]() | Pedersöre | Finnish: Pedersöre or earlier Pietarsaari maalaiskunta | Jakobstad | Finnish: Pietarsaari | 1510–1520 | expanded 1787–1795 |
St. Mary's Church | Swedish: St. Mary's Church, Vasa | Korsholm | Finnish: Mustasaari | Vaasa | Swedish: Vasa | 1500–1520 | ruins, destroyed by fire 1852 | |
Vörå Sacristy | Finnish: Vöyri Sacristy | Vörå | Finnish: Vöyri | Vörå | Finnish: Vöyri | 1519–1522 | ruins beneath the 1626 church |
Satakunta
Church | Church name based on the second official language in Finland | Image | Original parish | Parish name based on the second official language in Finland | Current municipality | Municipality in the other official language in Finland | Built | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Church of the Holy Cross | Swedish: Helga korskyrkan Church | ![]() | Franciscan Convent in Rauma | Swedish: Franciscan Convent in Raumo | Rauma | Swedish: Raumo | 1515–1520 | |
Huittinen Church | Swedish: Vittis Church | ![]() | Huittinen | Swedish: Vittis | Huittinen | Swedish: Vittis | 1500 | expanded 1793 and 1860 |
Kokemäki Sacristy | Swedish: Kumo | ![]() | Kokemäki | Swedish: Kumo | Kokemäki | Swedish: Kumo | 1500–1540 | |
Köyliö Sacristy | Swedish: Kjulo Sacristy | Köyliö | Swedish: Kjulo | Köyliö | Swedish: Kjulo | early 16th century | no remains found | |
Lempäälä Church | Swedish: Lembois Church | ![]() | Lempäälä | Swedish: Lembois | Lempäälä | Swedish: Lembois | 1502–1505 | expanded 1806 and 1835–1838 |
Loimaa Sacristy | Swedish: Loimaa Sacristy or Loimijoki Sacristy | Loimaa | Swedish: Loimaa | Loimaa | Swedish: Loimaa | 1500–1560 | demolished 1751, no remains found | |
Messukylä Old Church | Swedish: Messuby Old Church | ![]() | Messukylä | Swedish: Messuby | Tampere | Swedish: Tammerfors | 1510–1530 | |
Nokia Manor Chapel | Swedish: Nokia gård´s Church | Nokia Manor | Swedish: Nokia Gård | Nokia | Swedish: Nokia | 1505–1529 | foundations, demolished 1760s | |
Sastamala Church | Swedish: Sastamala Church | ![]() | Karkku | Swedish: Karkku | Sastamala | Swedish: Karkku | 1497–1505 | |
St. Olaf's Church | Swedish: St. Olaf's Church | ![]() | Tyrvää | Swedish: Tyrvis | Sastamala | Swedish: Sastamala | 1506–1516 | interior destroyed by fire 1997 |
St. Olaf's Church | St. Olaf's Church | ![]() | Ulvila | Swedish: Ulvsby | Ulvila | Swedish: Ulvsby | 1495–1510 | |
Trinity Church | Swedish: Treenighets Church | Rauma | Swedish: Raumo | Rauma | Swedish: Raumo | 1495–1505 | ruins, destroyed by fire 1640 | |
Vesilahti Sacristy | Swedish: Vesilax Sacristy | Vesilahti | Swedish: Vesilax | Vesilahti | Swedish: Vesilax | 1485–1500 | demolished 1839 |
Savonia
Church | Church name based on the second official language in Finland | Image | Original parish | Parish namne based on the socond official language in Finland | Current municipality | Municipality inte the secon official langiage in Finland | Built | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Savilahti Stone Sacristy | Swedish: Savilax Stone Sacristy | ![]() | Savilahti | Swedish: Savilax | Mikkeli | Swedish: St Michel | 1520–1560 | abandoned 18th century, restored 1901 |
Tavastia
Church | Church name based on the second official language in Finland | Image | Original parish | Original Parish name based on the second official language in Finland | Current municipality | Municipality name based on the second official language in Finland | Built | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akaa Sacristy | Swedish: Ackas Sacristy | ![]() | Akaa | Swedish: Ackas | Akaa | Swedish: Ackas | ca. 1510 | |
Hauho Church | Swedish: Hauho Church | ![]() | Hauho | Swedish: Hauho | Hämeenlinna | Swedish: Tavastehus | 1500–1520 | |
Hollola Church | Swedish: Hollola Church | Hollola | Swedish: Hollola | Hollola | Swedish: Hollola | 1495–1510 | ||
Holy Cross Church | Swedish: Heliga Korset's Church | ![]() | Hattula | Swedish: Hattula | Hattula | Swedish: Hattula | 1472–1490 | |
Hämeenkoski Church | Swedish: Hämeenkoski Church | ![]() | Koski | Hämeenkoski | Swedish: Hämeenkoski | 1510–1560 | ruins, abandoned early 17th century | |
Janakkala Church | Swedish: Janakkala Church | ![]() | Janakkala | Swedish: Janakkala | Janakkala | Swedish: Janakkala | 1510–1520 | expanded 1840s |
Kalvola Sacristy | Swedish: Kalvola Sacristy | Kalvola | Swedish: Kalvola | Hämeenlinna | Swedish: Tavastehus | 1495–1505 | ||
Lammi Church | Swedish: Lampis Church | Lammi | Swedish: Lampis | Hämeenlinna | Swedish: Tavastehus | 1510s | ||
Padasjoki Sacristy | Swedish: Padasjoki Sacristy | Padasjoki | Swedish: Padasjoki | Padasjoki | Swedish: Padasjoki | 1520–1560 | demolished 1660s, present church 1670 | |
Renko Church | Swedish: Rengo Church | Renko | Swedish: Rengo | Hämeenlinna | Swedish: Tavastehus | 1510–1550 | ||
Somero Sacristy | Swedish: Somero Sacristy | ![]() | Somero | Swedish: Somero | Somero | Swedish: Somero | 1490s | |
St. Michael's Church | Swedish: St. Michael's Church, Pälkäne | ![]() | Pälkäne | Swedish: Pälkäne | Pälkäne | Swedish: Pälkäne | 1495–1505 | ruins, abandoned 1839 |
Sysmä Church | Swedish: Sysmä Church | ![]() | Sysma | Swedish: Sysmä | Sysmä | Swedish: Sysmä | 1510–1520 | expanded 1833–1834 |
Sääksmäki Church | Swedish: Sääksmäki Church | ![]() | Sääksmäki | Swedish: Sääskmäki | Valkeakoski | Swedish: Valkeakoski | 1495–1500 | destroyed by fire 1929, rebuilt 1933 |
Tammela Church | Swedish: Tammela Church | ![]() | Tammela | Swedish: Tammela | Tammela | Swedish: Tammela | 1530–1550 | |
Tuulos Church | Swedish: Tuulos Church | Tuulos | Swedish: Tuulos | Hämeenlinna | Swedish: Tavastehus | 1510–1540 | ||
Tyrväntö Sacristy | Swedish: TYrväntö Sacristy or Tyrvändö Sacristy | ![]() | Tyrväntö | Swedish: Tyrväntö or Tyrvändö | Hattula | Swedish: Hattula | early 16th century | |
Urjala Sacristy | Swedish: Urjala Sacristy | ![]() | Urjala | Swedish: Urjala | Urjala | Swedish: Urjala | 1520–1540 | |
Vanaja Church | Swedish: Vånå Church | ![]() | Vanaja | Swedish: Vånå | Hämeenlinna | 1495–1510 |
Uusimaa
Åland
Åland is officially monolingual Swedish speaking and the names are just according to the Swedish language.
Church | Image | Original parish | Current municipality | Built | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Church of St. Olaf | ![]() | Jomala | Jomala | 1275–1285 | |
Eckerö Church | ![]() | Eckerö | Eckerö | 1380–1420 | |
Finström Church | ![]() | Finström | Finström | 1440–1470 | |
Föglö Church | Föglö | Föglö | 1500–1520 | expanded 1859–1860 | |
Geta Church | Geta | Geta | 1510–1540 | ||
Hammarland Church | Hammarland | Hammarland | 14th century | ||
Kumlinge Church | Kumlinge | Kumlinge | 1500–1510 | ||
Kökar Church | Franciscan Convent in Kökar | Kökar | 1500–1520 | abandoned late 16th century, present church 1784 | |
Lemböte Chapel | Lemland | Lemland | 1500–1530 | abandoned late 16th century, renovated 1890s | |
Lemland Church | ![]() | Lemland | Lemland | 1290–1310 | |
Saltvik Church | Saltvik | Saltvik | 1350s–1370s | ||
Sund Church | ![]() | Sund | Sund | late 13th century | |
Vårdö Church | Vårdö | Vårdö | 1520–1550 |
Sources
- ^ Hiekkanen, Markus (2007). Suomen keskiajan kivikirkot (in Finnish) (2nd ed.). Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. ISBN 978-951-746-861-9.
- ^ Hiekkanen, Markus (1994). The Stone Churches of the Medieval Diocese of Turku: A Systematic Classification and Chronology (Doctoral dissertation). Translated by Kokkonen, Jüri. Helsinki: Suomen Muinaismuistoyhdistys [Finnish Antiquarian Society]. ISBN 978-951-9057-11-8.
- ^ a b Ringbom, Åsa (January 2012). "A reply to Hiekkanen regarding the Medieval churches of Åland". Fornvännen. 107 (1): 50–53 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ Tulkki, Carita (2006). Ulvilan kirkko ja tapuli: Ulvilan kirkon ja tapulin restaurointi- ja korjaustyön arkeologinen valvonta 2004–2005 (in Finnish). Pori: Satakunnan Museo. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ https://sprakbruk.fi/artiklar/vad-heter-jakobstad-pa-engelska/
See also
External links
Media related to Medieval churches in Finland at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Fieldstone churches in Finland at Wikimedia Commons