Church in Kiruna, Sweden is being relocated following over a century of standing in place
The Remarkable Relocation of Kiruna Church
In the heart of northern Sweden, the historic Kiruna Church, one of Sweden's most beautiful pre-1950 buildings, is embarking on an extraordinary journey. Completed in 1912, this striking red-painted wooden structure, known as the "soul" of Kiruna and a symbol of stability for residents, is being moved three miles (5 kilometers) to a new site, away from the expansion of the world's largest underground iron ore mine.
This relocation project, a chapter in a decades-long effort to gradually move the entire town, is no ordinary task. The church, weighing around 600-672 tons, was carefully lifted from its foundations using specialized hydraulic jacking equipment and placed onto a custom-built trailer designed to evenly distribute its weight.
The move began at approximately 8am local time on August 19, following a blessing from church leaders and a planned route. Engineers from contractor Veidekke, working with specialists in heavy transport, have skillfully maneuvered the church onto a self-propelled modular transporter.
Preparing the route for the church's journey was no easy feat. LKAB, the state-owned mining company financing the project, spent a year widening roads from 9 meters to 24 meters, dismantling a viaduct, creating a new intersection, and reinforcing infrastructure to accommodate the church's size and weight.
Preserving the historic structure was another key challenge. The church, built in 1912, is one of Sweden's largest wooden buildings and considered highly beautiful and culturally significant. Extreme care was taken to keep it intact without damage during lifting and transport.
The Kiruna Church's striking red-painted wooden walls and ornate interior have made it the pride of Kiruna for generations. Unlike prior relocations of smaller buildings in Kiruna's planned city move, the church required extraordinary engineering and cost over $52 million (500 million kronor), reflecting the complexity and risks involved.
Once resettled on its new site, the church will be carefully restored and rotated so its entrance faces the community, which is a traditional orientation for folk churches in Arctic Sweden. The grave of Hjalmar Lundbohm, Kiruna's founding figure, will be relocated to rest beside the church once more.
Thousands of locals and visitors gathered to watch the church inch along the road, while concerts and community activities accompanied the move. Swedish media, including the newspaper Aftonbladet, are live streaming the remarkable event.
The Kiruna Church's move represents another chapter in the relocation project that has already shifted hundreds of homes, businesses, and public buildings out of harm's way. The growth of the mine, which has forced a dramatic rethink and necessitated tunneling beneath the original town site, has made this relocation project necessary.
However, the move is not without controversy. The Sami communities, whose reindeer herding routes have been affected by both the mine and the city's expansion, have voiced concern over the wider impact of development in the region.
Visitors to the region now have the chance to witness history in motion: an entire city redefining itself and its most cherished building taking a slow, stately journey into the future. The Kiruna Church, designed by architect Gustaf Wickman and blending Scandinavian Romantic style with influences from Sami culture and Norwegian stave churches, is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of its community.
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