KOKKOLA or Gamla Karleby (Old Karleby) MEDIEVAL CHURCH
(Text based on a translation by June Pelo of BYGGNADSKULTUR I KARLEBY by Kristina Ahmas and Tapio Väinölä, 1992)
(Text based on a translation by June Pelo of BYGGNADSKULTUR I KARLEBY by Kristina Ahmas and Tapio Väinölä, 1992)
The medieval grey stone church was built around 1500, though what it looked like is not known, only that there was a choir window in the east gable. The building represented the style of church building used in the 1300's in Swedish Finland.
Archangel Mikael was the patron saint of the church during the Catholic period, and the east door was an entrance for the priest, with the congregation entering by the south door. Few traces remain of the old church that was modernized according to the demands of the time. In the 1600's there was also another church to the south of this church, where Finnish language services were held. It was destroyed during the Stora Ofreden (war between Finland and Russia, 1721).
The ship at the top of the page hangs in the church, to remind us that most of the people in Kokkola at the time were merchant-farmers who were also ship owners, and mariners families.
Archangel Mikael was the patron saint of the church during the Catholic period, and the east door was an entrance for the priest, with the congregation entering by the south door. Few traces remain of the old church that was modernized according to the demands of the time. In the 1600's there was also another church to the south of this church, where Finnish language services were held. It was destroyed during the Stora Ofreden (war between Finland and Russia, 1721).
The ship at the top of the page hangs in the church, to remind us that most of the people in Kokkola at the time were merchant-farmers who were also ship owners, and mariners families.
The walls were plastered and white-limed; from 1843 the walls had been yellow and the stone base red. The roof was partially covered with new shingles.
Some church paintings are found in the church from when the church was built, eg. paintings on the choir wall done by Christian Hendhersson Wilbrandt in 1640. Bishop Gegelius advised the congregation in 1698 to white-lime the inside walls. The wall paintings were painted over probably during the first half of the 1700's.The old paintings found on the interior walls were restored.
Some church paintings are found in the church from when the church was built, eg. paintings on the choir wall done by Christian Hendhersson Wilbrandt in 1640. Bishop Gegelius advised the congregation in 1698 to white-lime the inside walls. The wall paintings were painted over probably during the first half of the 1700's.The old paintings found on the interior walls were restored.
The pulpit, the oldest presently in use in Finland, was restored in 1749. A new altar piece was done the same year. In the 1760's an expansion was planned to a cruciform of the same height as the old church, which was finished in 1789.
A church tower was added between 1797 and 1803. The seats were made at the end of the 1700's but were changed 1933-34. In 1952-53 the church was restored under the direction of Erik Kråkström.
A church tower was added between 1797 and 1803. The seats were made at the end of the 1700's but were changed 1933-34. In 1952-53 the church was restored under the direction of Erik Kråkström.
THE FUNERAL CHAPEL
The first bone house here was built in 1796 and the mortuary was restored in 1871 when the funeral chapel was built. It was designed by master builder Johan Stoor, with two doors and eight windows, an open cupola and a paneled interior. The chapel was restored 1948-49 from a design by Annie Krokfors. It is an 8-sided wooden building and has an 8-sided skylight in the middle of the roof, with windows in each side. . The original chapel was externally painted in light gray and had an oak-stained door, white window trim, white roof cornices and golden yellow cross.
The graveyard had been all around the church, and then around this chapel when the ground became full. In 1848 the new Elisabeth cemetery outside the town was established.
Some of the graves still there in the grounds include the English sailors and soldiers killed when the British Navy attacked Kokkola harbour in 1854, as a manoeuvre during the beginnings of the Crimean War to prevent Russian ships heading towards Turkey. The later World Wars' monuments are also here, including the Okand Soldat, the Unknown Soldier who lies in every town.
The first bone house here was built in 1796 and the mortuary was restored in 1871 when the funeral chapel was built. It was designed by master builder Johan Stoor, with two doors and eight windows, an open cupola and a paneled interior. The chapel was restored 1948-49 from a design by Annie Krokfors. It is an 8-sided wooden building and has an 8-sided skylight in the middle of the roof, with windows in each side. . The original chapel was externally painted in light gray and had an oak-stained door, white window trim, white roof cornices and golden yellow cross.
The graveyard had been all around the church, and then around this chapel when the ground became full. In 1848 the new Elisabeth cemetery outside the town was established.
Some of the graves still there in the grounds include the English sailors and soldiers killed when the British Navy attacked Kokkola harbour in 1854, as a manoeuvre during the beginnings of the Crimean War to prevent Russian ships heading towards Turkey. The later World Wars' monuments are also here, including the Okand Soldat, the Unknown Soldier who lies in every town.