Description:
The wooden church was built in 1689 at Sodankylä in Lapland. The building type, the block pillar church, was known in Finland already during medieval times. Sodankylä old church is the most authentic, existing example of the type. In 1778 rather extensive renovation works were necessary. The lowest logs were renewed, the roof was covered by wooden shingles, and the walls were clad with vertical wooden boarding. Also a new floor, new benches, a new altar rail and a choir screen were built. Soon the gallery was built in the western end of the church and the windows were enlarged. But then, in 1859, a new stone church was built and the old wooden temple was abandoned. The restoration works were done by traditional methods by hand. The shingles were carved by axe, the boards torn and handmade nails used. The bitumen felt, which was laid on the roof in 1926 or 1950 and had caused the shingles to rot, was replaced by birch bark. Natural wood tar was used to protect the wood.