Story: Tuovi Similä Photo: Eero Kemilä

Handwork sets the pace of building Kärsämäki wooden church:

Almost 40,000 shingles made
using time-honoured methods

Back in the 18th century the pace of life was quite different from what it is today. So there's no particular rush in the construction of a new wooden church at Kärsämäki, especially as the methods being used date back 300 years. Making almost 40,000 wooden shingles (from aspen) takes time: each one cut and carved by hand and then impregnated with tar. Not to mention the nails (hand forged ) needed to fix them in place.

Kärsämäki wooden church in a fine example of a cultural project, and its main sponsor is Wood Products. On the site of the original church, which was built in 1765 but demolished just over a century later, is being built a modern wooden shrine using 18th century methods. The instigators of the project are vicar of the parish Jorma Niinikoski and architect Panu Kaila, an expert in traditional building from wood.

Training a key part of the project

"Reviving old working methods is an important part of this project. Behind it is the hope that someone might even find a profession by learning how things were once done. Establishing jobs around wood is an important issue in an important issue in this area, and Kärsämäki is taking on the responsibility for development for all six municipalities involved in the project. This means training and production of the necessary material go hend in hand with the actual work", explains Jorma Niinikoski.

Also involved in the project is the Wood Studio of the University of Oulu and numerous vocational training institutes, who are arranging courses on the old medhods being used to build the church.

Pines intended for the church building timbers were marked last summer ready for harvesting in February. The timbers will be hewn to shape by an international working group in March.

Shingles, timbers and nails

By the beginning of January, half of the aspen needed to make the shingles had arrived. Work on fashioning the shingles began later in the month, but actual building work will not start until March, when an international 'camp' is formed, comprising students of architecture from Italy and Oulu in addition to local people. Participants will learn how to make shingles, hew building timbers and saw by hand.

The forging of nails will also be studied - one nail will be needed for each shingle. A young smith from the village has forged an example for the others to copy. Similar skills will be needed to make hinges. locks and candlestick holders for the church.

Before the camp, in February, timber will be cut using men and horses from the parish's own forests. this will be used to make the load-bearing members for the church.

Making shingles and nails is a major undertaking, and Jorma Niinikoski invites all readers of this magazine to come and lend a hand!

the timber frame of the new church will be erected during this spring and summer. "The foundation stone will be laid this spring and the timber frame raised. We're not rushing things, because we're providing training at the same time. We hope to have the entire church built by 2004 at the latest", Niinikoski says.

Modern language of form combined with old techniques

The church itself has been designed by Anssi Lassila, a student of architecture at the University of Oulu and winner of the design competition. He intends to follow the building work "to see how it goes and to learn something myself."

The bearing structure is built from hewn logs and measures 10 by 10 metres. This is enveloped, with a space of about 2 metres, by shingle-faced 'cloak' extending to the ground. The space between will form the vestibules and vestry. The interior offers much flexibility, as the pews, the lectern (which also serves as altar) and the communion table can all be moved around as required.

"In designing the church we were aiming at a modern, very simple language of form, traditional methods and an interplay between the two. As Panu Kaila, the architect, put it: it's simple in form but it's being built from materials that are close to use by ordinary people, and that gibes it something special", says Lassila.