Kempele Old Church, Kempele, Finland

The inhabitants of Kempele were permitted to build their own prayer room in 1688. Despite of restrictions they constructed a real church which was completed in 1691. The building master was Matti Härmä. The wooden church has some gothic features. The belfry was built in 1769.

The interior is decorated by the famous church painter Mikael Toppelius between 1785 and 1795. The French-style pulpit is very personal decorated also by Toppelius.

The Church is surrounded by a cemetery. The oldest graves data back to the late 1700’s. The are also total of about 150 older graves under the church. Burials to the church ended in 1796.

User Reviews

Raimo “nallewaari” Karhu (5 years ago)
Nice old church. "Evening has already come, the organ is playing, the village is sleeping"

Seppo (5 years ago)
Komia old church, marriage church.

Helena Härmä (5 years ago)
An atmospheric, cozy historic church.

Leevi Kantelinen (6 years ago)
Hieno vanha kirkko

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Photo from Flickr, copyright R. Van Wallendael

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Kempele Old Church

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