St. John's Church, Helsinki

St. John's Church (Finnish: Johanneksenkirkko, Swedish: Johanneskyrkan) in Helsinki, Finland is a Lutheran church designed by the Swedish architect Adolf Melander in the Gothic Revival style. It is the largest stone church in Finland by seating capacity.[1][2][3]

St. John's Church
Nya Kyrkan
Finnish: Johanneksenkirkko
Swedish: Johanneskyrkan
60°09′42.5″N 024°56′41.0″E
LocationHelsinki
CountryFinland
DenominationLutheran
Websitewww.helsinginkirkot.fi/en/churches/st-johns-church
History
Consecrated1891 (1891)
Cult(s) presentChristian Lutheran
Architecture
Architect(s)Adolf Emil Melander
StyleGothic Revival
Groundbreaking1888
Completed1891
Specifications
Capacity2,600
Administration
DioceseHelsinki

Description

Situated in the Ullanlinna district of Helsinki, the church was built between 1888 and 1891, the third Lutheran church in Helsinki, and still the biggest. The twin towers are 74 metres in height, and the church seats 2,600 people and has excellent acoustics, and it is therefore used for big concerts and events as well as services.[1] The altarpiece shows Saul's conversion and the painting, called A Divine Revelation, is by Eero Järnefelt, brother-in-law to Jean Sibelius.[2][3]

Johannes (John) church stands on a hill that for many centuries had been a place for Midsummer bonfires (Midsummer is now also "John's Day", Juhannus in Finnish).[2]

The composer Oskar Merikanto was an organist at the church for a time.[2]

See also

References
  1. "St. John's Church". Helsinki parishes. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  2. "Johanneksenkirkko". johanneksenkirkko.fi. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  3. "Johanneksen kirkko ympäristöineen". Valtakunnallisesti merkittävät rakennetut kulttuuriympäristöt RKY. Retrieved 28 June 2020.


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