Church relocates with significant logistics endeavor in Sweden's history
The historic red wooden church, Kiruna Kyrka, embarked on a remarkable journey this week, moving 5 kilometers to make way for Europe's biggest underground mine in Kiruna, Sweden.
Built in 1912, the 1,200-metric-ton church, designed by Gustaf Wickman, is a mix of influences and includes designs inspired by the region's Indigenous Sami people on the pews. The neo-Gothic exterior features slanting roofs and windows on each side, while its dark interior has elements of national romanticism as well as an Art Nouveau altarpiece, painted by Sweden's Prince Eugen.
The move, which began on Tuesday, is being done on remote-controlled flatbed trailers, traveling at a pace of half a kilometer an hour. Particular attention is being paid to protect the church's large organ and altarpiece during the move.
LKAB, the mining company responsible for the town's relocation, is footing the 500 million kronor ($52 million) bill for the move. The company offered financial compensation or rebuilding options to those affected by the town's relocation, but decided to move Kiruna Kyrka in one piece due to its significance.
The logistical operation to move the church required a blessing by Bishop Asa Nystrom and Vicar Lena Tjarnberg. One of the trickiest parts of the move was the start, where the convoy had to make a turn and roll down a slight incline to reach the main road.
The roads on the route of Kiruna Kyrka's move have been widened from nine to 24 meters and leveled to provide a smooth ride. The belltower of Kiruna Kyrka will be moved next week.
The move of Kiruna Kyrka is being handled with great reverence. Elisabeth Turq, a 66-year-old French tourist, found the move remarkable, saying, "I have never seen anything like this before." Sami author Ann-Helen Laestadius, a native of Kiruna, had mixed feelings about the church's move but acknowledged its significance to the town.
The new town center, where Kiruna Kyrka will be reassembled, was officially inaugurated in September 2022. Laestadius, who was baptized, confirmed, and married in Kiruna Kyrka, lamented the loss of other landmarks in Kiruna's relocation.
The relocation of the church is part of a larger town relocation process that began almost two decades ago and is expected to continue for years to come. There is no information available about the official inauguration date of the new Kiruna Kyrka.
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