A church is built for fishermen in 1694
The church located in the Turkansaari Open Air Museum was built in 1694 at the latest according to a note found on one wall timber. At the time, the Turkansaari Island served as a meeting place for merchants and fishermen. Based on the church’s architecture, it has been deduced that the church was built primarily for fishermen. It’s simple and clear appearance links it to other fishermen’s churches of the period.
The names of multiple preachers found written on the church’s walls indicate that the church was in active use in the 1700s. The Turkansaari Church survived the Great Wrath in early 1700s when the Oulu region and the Oulujoki River region experienced indiscriminate destruction. According to oral tradition, some attempted to burn the Turkansaari Church, but fortunately it survived.
Forgotten century
The decreased significance of fishing and the centralization of trade in Oulu altered the station of Turkansaari Island. Turkansaari was no longer necessary for fishers or merchants and the significance of the island decreased. Sources show that the Turkansaari Church was sold in 1814, and the building’s timber were transferred into the city, to Raatti Island. There the building served as a storage for salmon fishers. The 1800s was a forgotten century for Turkansaari. After the church was removed, Turkansaari Island served as pastureland for farmers.
The church returns to Turkansaari
A new phase of the church’s history begins in the 1920s with doctor Östen Elfving’s influence when he became the owner of the Määttä Farm by the Oulujoki River through marriage. Elfving had been interested in the farm and history of the Oulujoki River region. Among the farm’s documents, Elfving found a 1797 map in which Turkansaari was labeled as “bönehus”, meaning prayer house. By interviewing locals, he found out that fishermen referred to the storage in Raatti Island as a church. Elfving tried to figure out if the building in Raatti Island was in fact a church. Simultaneously, research was conducted in Turkansaari Island and proof of the church’s original location was found.
Östen Elfving decided to return the church to its original location in Turkansaari. He bought both the timber from Raatti Island and the Turkansaari Island. In the winter of 1922, the timber was returned to Turkansaari over the ice and the construction to rebuild the church began. Local farm owners were an indispensable help in returning the church to its original location.
Church interior
There was no information about the church’s interior during the rebuilding. Östen Elfving received help from Oulu’s Museum Director Ethnologist Samuli Paulaharju. With his help, furnishing was acquired from the dismantled old Markkina Church in Enontekiö which originated from the same period. Leftover hinges, a door, an incision and a column were delivered from the Markkina Church to Turkansaari. The pulpit and altar were modeled after the old church in Sodankylä (built in 1689).
It is said that the colors of the church interior were chosen by Östen Elfving based on Southern Lapland’s national dress. The church presents the shades of national dress; fiery orange, turquoise, brown and white. The Church was reopened on August 9, 1925, which is also considered the birthday of the Turkansaari Open Air Museum.