Saint Catherine's Church, Turku

The St. Catherine's Church (Finnish Pyhän Katariinan kirkko ), formerly known as the Church of Kaarina ( Kaarinan kirkko ), is a medieval stone church in the southwestern Finnish city of Turku. The church was built in the mid-15th century, is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. Originally it was the church of the neighboring village of Kaarina, but now belongs to the city of Turku. The church is located on the banks of the river Aurajoki in Nummi district and is the parish church of St. Catherine's church ( Katariinanseurakunta ), one of twelve Lutheran parishes in the Union of Towns - Turku Kaarina, which includes the eastern parts of Turku.

History

A first wooden predecessor appears to have been founded shortly after the founding of the parish Kaarina at the beginning of the 13th century on the site of the present church in the village of Nummi. The present-day stone church was probably built in the period 1440-1460 ( the porch maybe some decades later ). It was probably designed by the same originating from Mecklenburg builder who also built the church of Parga. The original plans, which provided for a two-aisled building with a steeple, were not altered during construction. 1697-1699 was built on the west end of the church a porch.

In 1939, when parts were incorporated into the city of Kaarina Turku, Turku came to the church. However, they remained the parish church of the parish Kaarina, which comprised also the eastern parts of Turku. Only in 1991 the parishes were separated according to the administrative border in the St. Catherine's church and the parish Kaarina. On this occasion the church Kaarina a new church and the previously known as the Church of Kaarina church was renamed St. Catherine's Church.

Specifications

The St. Catherine's church is very well preserved its medieval appearance. The three-aisled nave of St. Catherine's church is relatively small with 26.1 × 14.7 meters. In the north, a sacristy, in the south, a porch and a porch to the west is grown. About a steeple of St. Catherine's Church has not.

The interior of the church is decorated with paintings Secco two different artists. End of the 18th century, the paintings were covered up, but exposed in the early 20th century. To the church inventory includes ten medieval wooden sculptures. Their oldest dates from the early 14th century and probably represents the patron saint Catherine of Alexandria represents the remaining sculptures were created in Finland in the early 16th century.