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. Medievial 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 litterature. [5]
Number of churches by province[edit]
| Province | Churches | Sacristies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finland Proper | 26 | 4 | 30 |
| Tavastia | 13 | 6 | 19 |
| Uusimaa | 14 | – | 14 |
| Satakunta | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| Åland | 13 | – | 13 |
| Ostrobothnia | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Karelia | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Savonia | – | 1 | 1 |
Finland Proper[edit]
Karelia[edit]
Ostrobothnia[edit]
Savonia[edit]
| 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: Mikkeli | 1520–1560 | abandoned 18th century, restored 1901 |
Tavastia[edit]
Uusimaa[edit]
Åland[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ Hiekkanen, Markus (2007). Suomen keskiajan kivikirkot (in Finnish) (2nd ed.). Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. ISBN 9789517468619.
- ^ 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 9789519057118.
- ^ 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[edit]
External links[edit]
Media related to Medieval churches in Finland at Wikimedia Commons- Media related to Fieldstone churches in Finland at Wikimedia Commons
