Finnish churches undergo multimillion-euro renovations with modern additions
Finnish churches are receiving annual multimillion-euro renovations to update aging infrastructure and expand their functionality, including the addition of mini-kitchens and children’s play areas, reports Yle.
The recently completed nine-month renovation of Kannus Church, a 200-year-old building in western Finland, cost nearly €5 million. The project overhauled outdated electrical systems, heating, lighting, and sound equipment, while also refreshing worn interiors. According to parish priest Sakari Typpö, the church had not seen major repairs in decades.
“Everything from wiring and lighting to heating and acoustics was outdated,” Typpö said. “The interior surfaces were also quite worn.”
The renovation reduced the number of pews to create a more open space and repositioned the altar to face the congregation—a shift from its previous placement against the wall. Accessibility improvements included an indoor ramp, lowered thresholds, and the church’s first-ever restrooms, including an accessible toilet and a small kitchenette.
New features also cater to families, with designated play areas for children during services. Further work this year will include restoring altar paintings, repainting the ceiling, and refurbishing the adjacent war memorial graveyard.
Modern needs shape historic spaces
Finland’s churches, most over a century old and protected by ecclesiastical law, remain in generally good condition, according to Edla Mäkelä, chief architect at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Typical renovations address structural elements like roofs, walls, and windows, alongside updates to heating and electrical systems to meet modern safety standards.
A growing trend is repurposing underused spaces—such as areas beneath organ lofts—to install café-style seating, mini-kitchens, and improved restroom facilities. Mäkelä notes that as parish halls close, their functions are increasingly relocated to churches.
“Often, fixed pews are removed from lower spaces, like under the organ balcony, and replaced with tables, mini-kitchens, or play areas,” she explained. “This makes churches more versatile for community use.”
Enhanced audio-visual systems are also being installed to support live-streamed services and concerts, reflecting the buildings’ expanding role as cultural venues.
With ecclesiastical law requiring parishes to maintain a church, these structures often become the last remaining community assets. “The church is the final building a parish retains—everything else can be relinquished,” Mäkelä said.
In Helsinki alone, the city’s 39 churches have seen multiple major renovations in recent years, including the 2025 completion of Malmi Church’s extensive overhaul and the façade restoration of Helsinki Cathedral. Additional projects, such as Munkkiniemi Church’s renovation and the relocation of Oulunkylä parish operations into its church building, are underway.