The Old Church of Helsinki is situated on the northern edge of a square-shaped park, also called the Plague Park. The name dates back to the 1710s when the victims of a serious epidemy were buried here, at the time well out of town. As the plan of the new capital was laid in the 1810s, this block was reserved for a suburban church.

Up to 1824 the old 18th century Ulrika Eleonora Church, standing in the way of the monumental Senate Square, had served the needs of all residents of the town. As the square was being built and the design for the new, imposing cathedral on its northern edge had been approved, it became necessary to clear the square of old structures. Engel was therefore commissioned to design a temporary wooden church to be placed on the site reserved for the suburban church.

The church was built between 1825 and 1826 and the old cemetery was officially converted into a park in 1829. The pulpit, some chandeliers and pews and the organ of the older Ulrika Eleonora Church were transported into the new church. The temporary wooden building designed and realised under the aesthetic scrutiny of Engel was never demolished and is today a beloved building with a characteristic atmosphere.

The timber-structured building is a hall church with Tuscan square columns dividing the hall into three aisles. These columns are masonry and support the high wooden vault covering the main aisle. The building is an elongated cross in plan and when seen from the shorter end, the shape resembles that of a Palladian villa with a strong centre, designated by an open tower. The maintenance of the wooden building requires regular oil painting and the façade surfaces testify of almost 200 years of layers.

text: Kati Winterhalter

Location

Lönnrotinkatu 6, Helsinki
60.1664272, 24.9393161

Images

1962, The Old Church
1962, The Old Church (© Volker von Bonin / Helsinki City Museum)
1930, The Old Church
1930, The Old Church (© Sundström / Helsinki City Museum)
1904, The Old Church
1904, The Old Church (© Rosenbröijer / Helsinki City Museum)
Christmas 1952, The Old Church
Christmas 1952, The Old Church (© Grunberg / Helsinki City Museum)

More projects by author

Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Turku Cathedral

  • Turku
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Merikasarmi Naval Barracks

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Kaarti Barracks

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Helsinki Observatory

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Helsinki University

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Government Banquet Hall Smolna

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Lapinlahti Hospital

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Turku Observatory

  • Turku
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Senate Palace

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

National Library of Finland

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Helsinki City Hall

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Presidential Palace

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Helsinki Cathedral

  • Helsinki

Nearby projects

Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Hotel Torni

  • 200 m
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall

  • 200 m
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Otava Publishing House

  • 200 m