Congregation seeks to sell historic prayer house in Hämeenlinna

Hämeenlinna Parish Union is seeking to sell the 90-year-old Jugend-style Rimmin prayer house, despite opposition from residents and summer residents of the Rimmilä village, Yle reports.

The prayer house stands at the northern end of Lake Renkajärvi, in the former municipality of Kalvola. Built in 1935 through voluntary community work, it forms part of a culturally significant village environment.

The parish union is under pressure to reduce its property holdings. Its maintenance backlog is currently about 26 million euros and is growing by nearly 1.5 million euros a year.

Church Administration financial planning manager Johanna Simpanen said that giving up surplus or rarely used properties was one effective way for parishes to cut costs while preserving premises essential to their activities and buildings with cultural and historical value.

Hämeenlinna Parish Union property director Arto Turkulainen said the prayer house was considered lightly used. The building hosts between one and three events a year and has also been rented to outside users occasionally.

Its upkeep is not particularly expensive because its property tax is moderate and it is not heated during the winter. Even so, the prayer house is on a list of properties the parish union intends to give up as soon as possible.

The sale has not been rushed because the parish union is dealing with other projects, including the demolition of the old central parish hall and construction of a new one. Renovation work on Hämeenlinna Church is also due to begin in September.

Turkulainen said the prayer house would not be sold for just any purpose or to be moved elsewhere. If it is sold, its original purpose and exterior may not be changed without permission from the responsible museum authority.

The prayer house was built after Kalvola parish vicar Emil Laurila decided that Rimmilä needed its own place of worship because the journey to Kalvola Church was long. The local community took inspiration from a similar building in Urjala, and completed the construction through volunteer work.

Plans to sell the building have worried local residents. At a discussion meeting organised by the parish union in late 2024, the prayer house was filled with concerned villagers and summer residents after the union had received a purchase offer. The offer was later withdrawn.

Residents subsequently asked Hämeenlinna-Vanaja Parish to organise more events at the building. Heikki Lindqvist, who worked as a church caretaker for more than 40 years, has recorded attendance at events in recent years. Services usually draw between 25 and 40 people, while popular events such as Christmas carol concerts can attract up to 80. Summer residents also attend.

Lindqvist said the parish could organise more music events at the prayer house. Päivi Yrjönen, who has lived in Rimmilä for 70 years, said she hoped young families would move to the village and help preserve the building as its centre.

A celebratory service and village event are scheduled for October.