Salpausselkä church decommissioned due to severe indoor air problems

The Salpausselkä church in Lahti, Finland, was formally decommissioned from sacred use in a rare ceremony on Ascension Day, public broadcaster Yle reports. The decision follows years of unresolved indoor air quality issues, with demolition now planned as repairs would exceed the cost of new construction.

The decommissioning service, led by Bishop Mari Parkkinen of Mikkeli, removed the church’s sacred status and religious symbols. During the ceremony, the altar cross was carried out, and all sacred objects were relocated to the Western Chapel, where a final communion was held. “Removing God’s dwelling place is a difficult decision, made only for the most compelling reasons,” said parish rector Sari Kuirinlahti.

The church has not hosted regular services for some time due to health hazards, with only brief devotional gatherings permitted. A final decision on demolition will be made by the Lahti parish council on May 20, followed by a formal application to building authorities.

Textile artist Helena Vaari, who designed the church’s fabrics 35 years ago, described the decommissioning as emotional. “I brought the altar cloth here in early spring back then. Standing at the altar for the last time now is deeply moving,” she said. While some textiles will be repurposed in the Western Chapel, the large altar cloth remains unused. Vaari expressed hope for redesigning textiles if a new church is built.

The parish has not yet confirmed plans for a replacement church, though Kuirinlahti noted that renovation attempts had failed, making new construction the only viable option. Bishop Parkkinen framed the ceremony as both a farewell and a celebration of the church’s legacy: “We give thanks for the beautiful memories created here.”

The Finnish Church Council had previously approved the decommissioning, citing irreparable structural and air quality damage.