Alajärvi Church Explained

Alajärvi Church
Other Name:Church of Gabriel
Native Name:Alajärven kirkko
Native Name Lang:fi
Location:Alajärvi
Country:Finland
Denomination:Lutheran
Website:https://www.alajarvenseurakunta.fi/kirkot-ja-tilat/alajarven-kirkko
Dedication:Archangel Gabriel
Consecrated Date:21 March 1841
Status:Parish church
Functional Status:Active
Heritage Designation:protected
Architect:Carl Ludvig Engel
Architectural Type:neoclassical
Completed Date:1836
Capacity:1,000
Spire Quantity:1
Materials:timber
Parish:Alajärvi parish (Alajärven seurakunta)

Alajärvi Church, also known as the Church of Gabriel (Finnish: Gabrielin kirkko), is the main Lutheran church in the city of Alajärvi, Finland.

Architecture

The church was designed by the leading architect operating in Finland at the time, Carl Ludvig Engel, completed in 1836 and consecrated in 1841. It is designed in the neoclassical style, and constructed of timber, under a tarred wood shingle roof. There is a standalone bell tower next to the church.

The main altarpiece was created in 1907[1] by the Finnish, Alajärvi-born[2] post-impressionist artist Verner Thomé, and depicts Jesus's agony in the Gethsemane.[3]

In 1896, the church was refurbished, adding an internal balcony with seating, bringing the total seating capacity to 1,200, although in its current configuration it seats 1,000.[4]

The church, along with the city centre public and administrative buildings complex designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, has been designated and protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency as a nationally important built cultural environment (Valtakunnallisesti merkittävä rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö).[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomé, Verner . Kuvataiteilijamatrikkeli.fi . 4 October 2020 . fi.
  2. News: Alajärven alttaritaulu päätyi Kallioon . 4 October 2020 . Helsingin Sanomat . 3 December 1994 . fi.
  3. News: Tiekirkot kutsuvat kulkijoita . 4 October 2020 . Torstai . 22 July 2018 . fi.
  4. Web site: Gabrielin kirkko - Alajärven kirkko . AlajarvenSeurakunta.fi . 4 October 2020 . fi.
  5. Web site: Kohdetiedot - Alajärvi . RKY.fi . Finnish Heritage Agency . 4 October 2020 . fi.