Glass roof nears completion at 500-year-old Pälkäne church ruins

A glass roof protecting the medieval ruins of St. Michael’s Church in Pälkäne, Finland, is nearing completion after over a century of exposure to the elements, reports Yle. The project, driven by a local preservation association and volunteers, will safeguard the 16th-century structure while improving its usability.

The wooden frame and over 200 glass panels are now in place, with unseasonably warm spring weather allowing work to progress ahead of schedule. “We’ve had favorable conditions—last autumn, construction continued right up until Christmas,” said Carita Lindholm, chair of the Pälkäne Ruin Church Preservation Association. At peak times, up to 20 volunteers from the local Lions Club and the association have contributed alongside professionals.

“The support from volunteers has been invaluable. Without them, a project of this scale wouldn’t have been possible,” Lindholm added.

Built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, the church suffered severe damage in the 18th century before its roof collapsed in a storm in 1890. The new glass roof, designed by Lindholm—who is also the project’s lead architect—will shield the ruins from weathering while making the site more accessible for visitors. “This place has been meaningful to me since childhood. Working on it only deepens my appreciation,” she said.

Funding for the €660,000 project comes from multiple sources, including a 50% grant from the EU’s rural development fund via the Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. The remaining costs are covered by the Luopioinen Savings Bank Foundation, Pälkäne municipality, local cooperative banks, the parish, and private donors.

While no firm completion date has been set, Lindholm hopes the roof will be finished this year. “The priority is doing the work carefully—we won’t rush just to meet a deadline,” she stated. Once complete, the site will be better suited for events, though summer weddings are not yet being booked.

The ruin church, located along Highway 12 roughly 40 kilometers from Tampere toward Lahti, has undergone multiple restoration attempts since its roof collapsed over 130 years ago. The glass roof marks a rare solution for preserving a medieval fieldstone church of this kind.