St. Lawrence’s Church in Lohja

The Church of St. Lawrence is the 3rd largest medieval church in Finland. Only Turku cathedral and Nådendal abbey’s church are larger. The church is first mentioned in written documents in the year 1382. The rich medieval paintings inside on the church vaults and walls, dating back to the early 16th century, make St. Lawrence’s one of the most significant medieval monuments. The painting work was probably paid by Tönne Eriksson Tott who was a stadtholder of Raseborg between 1490 and 1513. Researchers think that it’s possible that an earlier church made of wood once stood on the same place right after the founding of the parish in 1230s or 1240s.’

The base of the belltower, which also dates back to the Medieval era, is built of stone in the same style as St. Lawrence’s church. The rest of the belltower is built of wood under the supervision of German build master Friedrich Schultz in 1740. The tower holds three bells; the largest bell was made in Lohja in 1624, the middle one was made in Tallinn in 1594 and the smallest bell was made in 1740 in Stockholm.

St. Lawrence’s church was decorated with biblical paintings between 1510 and 1522. It’s not known to us exactly who the painter was, or which group painted the church.

Earth pigments were used in the painting process which follows the al-secco method. The colors were painted on dry plaster, so the paintings are not frescos. The images are painted following the instructions given by the Cathedral Chapter of Turku. The image series start on the right-hand-side of the altar (looking from the parish members perspective) with history of the creation. The series end with the last judgment on the left-hand-side of the church. Images of saints were painted on the pillars of of the church. Certain kind of Finnishness shows in the paintings; Adam and Eve are covering themselves with a bath broom instead of Ficus leaves.

Open all year round.