Medieval stone churches in Finland

Medieval stone churches were built in Finland in the 13th century and the Reformation in the 16th century. A total of 73 such churches have been preserved, mostly in the south of the country (see list of medieval stone churches in Finland). Along with a few medieval castles represent the oldest buildings in the country, which is why they are in the history of Finnish architecture is of great importance. Almost without exception, it is in the medieval stone churches Finnish small and simple stone churches. Only the Turku Cathedral is the only medieval cathedral in Finland, comes close to the proportions of Central European cathedrals.

• 2.1 architecture and material
• 2.2 Floor Plan
• 2.3 exterior
• 2.4 interior

• 3.1 paintings
• 3.2 sculptures

History of medieval church architecture in Finland

Christianization of Finland

As a start date of Christianity in Finland is traditionally scheduled on the 1155 crusade of the Swedish king Erik the Saint. The Bishop Henry of Uppsala is said to have accompanied the king on this crusade and have converted the pagan Finns to Christianity. In fact, the Finns were already come to the turn of the century through trade relations with the Christian faith, to the west with the Roman Catholic, to the east with the Orthodox, in contact. Concurrent with the consolidation of Swedish rule in the 12th and 13th centuries, today's western Finland was incorporated into the Roman Catholic Church organization. The bishop's seat was initially located in Nousiainen, from 1229 then in Koroinen. End of the 13th century it was moved to Turku. The Diocese of Turku comprised in the Middle Ages almost the entire territory of present-day Finland. A special position is occupied by the Åland archipelago. You since the 11th century was already under the rule of Sweden and belonged to the diocese of Linköping.

Wooden Churches

With the founding of the first churches, the first parish churches were built on the Finnish mainland in the 13th century. These early churches were built in timber and are all not obtained. The oldest wooden building in Finland is the sermon House of St. Henry, a storage building in Kokemäki, where according to tradition the Holy Heinrich said to have spent his last night. The oldest preserved wooden churches date, however, only from the 17th century ( Church of Vörå, 1627 ). A general idea of the nature of medieval wooden churches like about the old church of Sodankylä (1689 ) convey with her back cross on medieval models design and their simple design.

The medieval wooden churches were built in block construction. Stave churches as they were built in the neighboring Scandinavian countries, were unknown in Finland. The early wooden churches should have had the Romanesque style following flatter roofs, while having most of the later Gothic stone churches pitched roofs. Also, the choir was formed in contrast to the later churches a separate component, which was narrower and lower than the nave. Vestries and weapons houses, however, were still rare.

At the time when the first stone churches were built, existed the respective parishes since up to 200 years. Therefore, most stone churches wooden predecessors went forward at the same location. Usually several wooden church generations succeeded each other since wood was prone to weather and fire as a building material. Often, a wooden church was converted into a stone church, built by a stone sacristy in a first step and later the church hall was walled. In some cases, the conversion was not completed, and it was the first phase of construction. This is testified ten preserved medieval vestries without an associated church hall. The combination of wood and stone church sacristy can be understood by means of the Church of Kisko, where a wooden church built in 1810 with a sacristy dating from the 16th century was connected.

Stone churches

The Finnish medieval churches focus on the south and west of the country: the highest density of stone churches have the historic landscapes Varsinais -Suomi, Uusimaa, Häme, Satakunta and Åland. A smaller number, namely only eight churches, found in Ostrobothnia along the west coast of Finland as far north as Alatornio and Keminmaa at the northern end of the Gulf of Bothnia. Even less stone churches were built in the eastern Finnish landscapes of Karelia and Savo - in the latter reflects only the stone sacristy of Mikkeli from the medieval church architecture.

The Finnish medieval stone churches can be classified according to their architectural style in three chronologically successive groups. The churches of the oldest group are found exclusively in Åland, where the church began much earlier than in mainland Finland. Overall, this group includes six churches from the period between the late 13th to the early 15th century. Their earliest and at the same time the oldest Church of Finland is created in the period 1275-1285 Church of Jomala. The oldest church in mainland Finland, the Turku Cathedral. He was probably consecrated in 1300; however, it is not clear whether this is already acted to the stone, which forms the core of today's church, or around a wooden predecessor. Perhaps the stone cathedral was first built around 1400.

In the 15th century sat on the Finnish mainland, a period of great Kirchenbauaktivität, which reached its peak in the period 1440-1460. The churches of this group originated largely in the historic landscapes Varsinais -Suomi and Uusimaa on the southwest and south coast of Finland. The youngest group forms a series of stone churches, whose construction began after about 1495. They are found mainly in the countryside Häme in the inland as well as on the west coast in Satakunta and Ostrobothnia. In addition, new churches were during this period but also in landscapes where rock churches were already built. The last medieval stone churches were built in the 1550s in Närpes and Keminmaa.

In Finland today are 73 medieval stone churches and vestries ten that were originally built in the context of a no longer extant wooden church obtained. 18 other churches have been preserved either as ruins, could be opened up by archaeological excavations, or their existence is proven by historical sources. Thus we know of 101 church buildings that were built in what is now Finland stone (104 including the churches of Vyborg, which belonged to the Swedish Empire and to the diocese of Turku in the Middle Ages as Finland). This number is low compared to other European, since Finland in the Middle Ages was a peripheral and backward part of Sweden. Thus arose in Denmark in its former borders 2,560 stone churches in Sweden 1150, and even in terms of area small Estonia, there were 100

End of the medieval church architecture and aftermath

The end of the Middle Ages Finnish marks the Reformation by King Gustav I Vasa (1523-1560) was introduced in the Swedish kingdom. Thus ended the construction of stone churches: Because the parishes had been expropriated by the state, you went over to the cheaper wood. So Finland experienced in the 17th and 18th centuries a veritable heyday of wooden church architecture. The wooden churches of the period after the Reformation grab partly based on medieval models. So share the mainly widespread in Ostrobothnia pillar churches the rectangular floor plan with attached vestry and porch. Even among the few stone churches of the 17th and 18th century are some, including the churches of Uusikaupunki ( 1623-29 ), Mietoinen ( 1641-43 ), Ekenäs ( 1651-72 ), Paimio ( 1681-89 ) and Kakskerta ( 1765 -69 ), built of field stone and continue the tradition of medieval stone churches. At the same time, but also new designs came under the influence of international styles ( Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism ) in the Finnish church architecture.

In the late 19th century, the medieval stone churches were interpreted as part of the development of the Finnish national consciousness as objects of a national heritage. They included not only the Karelian wooden architecture to the main sources from which the Finnish National Romanticism to the turn of the century drew its inspiration. A historicist replica of a medieval stone church can be found with the Ancient Church of Aitolahti (1920 ) in Tampere. Even some churches of modernity characterized by rectangular towerless floorplans and steep gabled roofs and grab as back to the style of the medieval stone churches. An example is the Church of Puolanka (1954).

Architecture

Architectural style and materials

With the exception of the Cathedral of Turku, the only cathedral, the medieval churches of Finland are more like simple village churches. Because he must be regarded as exceptional in almost every way, the Cathedral of Turku in the following description of the general characteristics of medieval Finnish stone churches is not considered.

Because of their simple design, the churches are difficult to assign to a particular epoch. However, their steep roofs and vaults they have made ​​as peripheral representatives of the European Gothic. The brick ornaments on the gable ends show specifically the influence of Brick Gothic in Northern Germany, where many of the builders of churches came. Only the oldest churches in Åland point with their flatter roofs on yet Romanesque forms. As a building material used Feldstein - mostly gray granite, regional red Rapakiwi. Brick as a building material was expensive and was used sparingly. In addition to the Turku Cathedral, the Church of Hattula is the only medieval brick Church of Finland. In general, brick was used only for window and door frames, the vault inside and the ornaments of the gable.

Ground plan

The floor plan of the medieval stone churches Finnish is easy and follows a standard pattern. The central component is the rectangular, geostete nave. Among the few examples of buildings with a different floor plan include the churches of Nousiainen and Renko. The size of the nave varies between 14.5 × 9.8 m ( original dimensions of the Church of Vårdö ) and 43.5 × 28.5 m ( Church of Naantali ). The choir makes a few exceptions not have its own component, but occupies the eastern, originally separated by a choir screen, part of the nave is a.

On the long sides of the nave two smaller components are usually connected: a sacristy in the eastern part of the north wall and a porch in the western part of the south wall. The latter was originally a hall outside the main entrance, where the weapons were stored in front of the church visit. It was only in later times the west entrance was converted to the main entrance. Most churches do not have a steeple. Only in the older churches in Åland, a west tower is the rule on the Finnish mainland, he found only sporadically. Instead, the church bells are housed in a freestanding bell stack. Many of the medieval churches of the floor plan has been altered in recent times. Especially in the 19th century numerous churches have been extended to cross the churches. Individual churches like the Church of Alatornio have been largely altered that they are no longer recognizable as medieval buildings.

Exterior

From the outside, the medieval Finnish churches appear quite massive with their simple plan. The steep saddleback roofs, gables reach heights of up to 34 meters, dominate the outer appearance. Where a church tower is available, it is usually bulky and rather low. A pointed and slender steeple of almost 60 meters high has, however, to the church of Pedersöre. In the churches of Eckerö and Åland Finström the original pyramidal spire has been preserved; with most other towers, the tip was replaced by baroque or classicist hoods.

Outdoor wear the churches only sparse architectural decoration. Only the most visible parts of the church, the gable ends of the nave, and often those of the sacristy and the weapons house are usually decorated with brick ornaments. Common motifs are crosses, round and arched niches and herringbone.

With the windows and doors of the churches, there are pointed arches, segmental arches, as well as round arches. Under the windows, the chancel window is the largest and most jewelry, but sometimes is also the west window intricately designed usually. The remaining windows are kept simple. The windows have been enlarged many times in later years and are so rarely in its original medieval form received. Some churches have an outside pulpit, mostly on the west side.

Interior

In the larger churches, the nave is divided into two or usually three naves, while smaller churches are nave. Two-aisled churches are rare with only nine examples among the 73 medieval stone churches. 32 churches have three ships. A particularly large three-aisled buildings are among the churches of the landscapes Varsinais -Suomi and Uusimaa. In the Turku Cathedral, the nave is increased, which makes him the only medieval Basilica of Finland. Here the vaults reach a height of 25 meters.

Apart from smaller churches and those who have remained unfinished, the interiors of the Finnish medieval stone churches are vaulted. The longhouses are equipped with cross and star vaults made ​​of brick. The vaults are divided into two to six yokes. In the vestries and weapons houses also barrel vaults occur.

Equipment

Paintings

In the Middle Ages the walls and vaults of the churches were decorated with rich secco paintings. These represent the oldest examples of Finnish art dar. While we have no knowledge of the paintings in the medieval wooden churches, the painting of 47 medieval stone churches has been preserved. Often these paintings were painted over after the Reformation and exposed only recently during restoration work again. The conservation status of the paintings is very variable, ranging from whole series of pictures to sparse fragments. Common motifs are adjacent to ornamental decoration pictures of saints, scenes from the Bible and depictions of hell.

The works are of very variable quality. While some churches are equipped by foreign masters with valuable paintings in art history, churches can be found in other extremely primitive paintings. The oldest surviving paintings were created in the 13th century in the churches of Jomala Lemland and Åland from a group of Swedish or Danish artist. These early works are of high artistic value. You already represented the early Gothic style, show in their ornamentation but some still influences the Romanesque painting. The richest and most famous paintings can be found in the churches of Lohja, Hattula and Rymättylä (early 16th century).

Medieval stained glass windows are preserved only in a few cases. The most important examples are found in the churches of Raisio and Nagu.

Sculptures

In Finland, about 800 medieval wooden sculptures, mostly saints obtained. This is in large part to import goods from Gotland and Northern Germany; but worked in Finland sculptors such as the Master of Lieto. The sculptures were originally preserved in the altar cabinets and were therefore often worked only on the front. Some sculptures, including the 130 crucifixes were obtained, but also used independently and were therefore fully plastic. With the Reformation, the images of the saints lost their liturgical significance. But because there was no iconoclasm in Finland, they were afterwards obtained in large numbers.

Dating

The dating of the most medieval churches in Finland is difficult because of their construction hardly any written sources exist. Historical documents can provide evidence; but their interpretation is often uncertain. Found only in individual cases, in the murals of churches building inscriptions that allow dating. Therefore, the science has to resort to other methods of age determination: A relative dating can be done by comparing the architectural style of the churches. Even scientific methods ( radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology ) can provide valuable information for dating.

A long time it went out at the Finnish medieval churches of relatively early construction data. So many churches have been dated on the Finnish mainland on the 13th or 14th century. The archaeologist and medievalist Markus Hiekkanen put mid-1990s, mainly on the basis of datings new research results that speak for much later construction data. A project for the dating of the Åland churches led by the art historian Åsa Ringbom came but using the radiocarbon dating to different results. Therefore, not yet considered as conclusive answers the question of the age of medieval churches in Finland.