Architect:
Antti Pihkala

Client, Project Management, Antiquitic Supervision:
Finnish National Board of Antiquities

Client:
Sodankylä Congregation

The old church at Sodankylä municipality is the best-preserved 17th century block pilar church in Finland. The wooden church was abandoned 1859, on completion of the stone church.

In 1992 the National Board of Antiquities started a thorough documentation and it was decided that the wooden shingles and facade boards would be replaced. Traditional handicraft methods were utilized in the restoration: the roof shingles were carved by axe in the traditional manner, and the wall boards were split directly from round logs without saws or machines. Both roof and facade boards were fastened only with wrought iron nails, and tarred.