Kerimäki’s wooden church closed for major roof renovation

The world’s largest wooden church in Kerimäki, Finland, is closed this summer for a major roof renovation, Yle reports.

The work includes replacing the waterproof roof, repainting the facade, and repairing windows. Structural timber damage caused by leaks is also being addressed, with replacement wood sourced from the parish’s own forests and dried over three years.

The renovation, costing approximately €2 million, is primarily funded by the Savonlinna parish, with additional support from church administration grants and bequest funds. The project began in spring and is expected to be largely completed by the end of the year, with final outdoor work possibly extending into next spring.

Normally drawing 20,000–30,000 summer visitors, the church remains accessible through an exhibition on its history and architecture in a nearby commercial space. The adjacent winter church stays open during the work.

The roof, covering over 2,000 square meters, is being repaired in sections, with scaffolding reassembled as work progresses. The previous roof lasted 120 years, but leaks from snow guards installed in the 1990s damaged the structure. The goal is for the new roof to last at least a century.

The parish hopes to reopen the church in time for the traditional Christmas service.