St. Olaf's Church in Tyrvää

Today another item from my bucket list came true this summer (the other was sculpture garden in Parikkala)! I wanted to see Osmo Rauhala's and Kuutti Lavonen's artworks in the medieval St. Olaf's Church in Tyrvää. Hubby, Emma and I headed to Sastamala after late breakfast. We also visited the medieval Saint Mary's Church in Karkku (probably built by the monks of the Dominican Brotherhood in the 15th century) These two old churches are very near each other. 

St Olaf’s Church, is thought to have been built at the beginning of the 16th century, possibly between 1506-1516. Large restoration of the 18th century shingle roof was finished in 1997, including hand carved 17,000 aspen shingles for the roof. Later same year in September the church was almost entirely destroyed by an arson.

Shortly after the fire, a decision was taken to rebuild the church. Volunteers were again called to the building work. Over the following years more than 1,000 volunteers participated in the building process, with a small core group of volunteers working every day.

Today the style of the exterior is still very similar to the original medieval church, with a shingle roof reconstructed to the appearance of the 18th century roof. Reconstruction of the exterior was finished in the autumn of 2000 and building of the interior started the same year.

The rebuilding was finished in 2003 and St Olaf’s church was open to the public until 2005 when it was closed again for painting project. Artists Kuutti Lavonen and Osmo Rauhala were selected to create the new artwork of the church. 

As a whole, the artwork of the church consists of 101 paintings today. Kuutti Lavonen’s work is situated in the panels of the galleries and Osmo Rauhala’s is in the altar area. Osmo Rauhala created also the paintings in the pulpit. Genesis, Garden of Eden and the Fall are the themes of Rauhala’s artwork in the altar area. The general theme in the pulpit is the first phrase of the Gospel according to St John: “In the beginning was the Word”. In the panels of the west gallery are found, among other things, Lavonen’s paintings of writers of the Gospels and the Last Judgement. Lavonen’s artwork extends to the panels of the north gallery where he has depicted a series of Via Crucis.

Kuutti Lavonen and Osmo Rauhala completed the artwork in August 2009 and St Olaf’s church was reopened to the public again. 


+21°C, mostly sunny, also clouds and some light rain