Kempele Old Church

Kempele Old Church is a wooden Lutheran place of worship in Kempele, standing 18 meters tall with Gothic design elements throughout its structure. Architect Matti Härmä designed it in traditional Finnish style, with careful attention to architectural details.

In 1688, local residents received permission to build a prayer room, and the church was completed in 1691. Between 1785 and 1795, church painter Mikael Toppelius created the interior decorations and adorned the French-style pulpit with religious imagery.

The name comes from the local community that needed a place for worship in the region. Today visitors can observe the traditional wooden craftsmanship and see how the building served as the spiritual center for the surrounding area.

The building is a protected structure and welcomes visitors interested in exploring Finnish wooden architecture. It helps to check opening times beforehand since this is an active place of worship.

Beneath the church floor rest approximately 150 historic graves dating from the late 1700s, with the final burial taking place in 1796. This quiet burial ground offers a touching connection to the community's past.

Location: Kempele

Inception: 1691

Architects: Matti Härmä

Elevation above the sea: 18 m

Part of: Kempele kyrkplats

Address: Vihiluodonkuja 1, 90440 Kempele

Website: https://kempeleenseurakunta.fi/kirkot-ja-tilat/vanha-kirkko

GPS coordinates: 64.91640,25.48500

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:05