Imatran kirkon urut siirretään Lohjalle ennen rakennuksen purkua

The pipe organ of Imatrankosken Church in Imatra is being dismantled and relocated to Karjalohja Church in Lohja, as the original building is set to be demolished, Yle reports.

The organ, installed in 1983, will replace the current digital organ in Karjalohja. Lohja Parish will cover the costs of dismantling, transporting, and reassembling the instrument, while Imatra Parish is providing the organ itself free of charge. The transfer follows an initiative by Imatra Parish’s cantor, who contacted Lohja Parish last year about the availability of the organ.

Pertti Metsävuo, an organ specialist from Espoo, began dismantling the instrument this week, starting with the mechanical components. The pipes—made of a soft tin-lead alloy—will be removed next week with the help of local construction workers and a crane. Metsävuo is documenting each step meticulously to ensure accurate reassembly. “There are so many parts that memory alone isn’t enough,” he said.

The organ’s components will be cleaned before installation in Karjalohja, where they are expected to be operational by the end of the year. Despite the building’s moisture damage, Metsävuo estimates the organ could remain functional for centuries with proper maintenance. Dismantling must be completed by mid-June, before the church’s demolition begins.

Imatrankosken Church was decommissioned over a year ago due to indoor air quality issues and financial constraints, leaving Imatra with two remaining Lutheran churches.