Old Church

The Old Church (by C.L. Engel) was built in 1826 and was the first Lutheran church to be built after Helsinki became the Finnish capital. In the park are graves and memorials to Finnish and German soldiers who died in the Civil War of 1918. The church was meant to be temporary when the Ulrika Elonora church at the current Senate Square was condemned to make way for the construction of the city centre. The church, which was funded with the salt duty money granted by the Czar, was completed by Christmas 1826.

In the heart of Helsinki, in the old Kamppi cemetery, also called Vanha kirkkopuisto (Old Church Park) stands the Old Church, completed in 1826. It is decorated with simple pillars in the Doric style, gables and a delicate bell tower. The movables of the Ulrika Elonora church, which was demolished to make room to the Cathedral, were moved to the wooden church, which was meant to be temporary. Only the pulpit still exists.