Local sources from Sweden: LKAB, 8 Sidor.
UK coverage: BBC.
In a feat that marries engineering with cultural preservation, the Kiruna Church in Sweden has been successfully relocated, marking a significant milestone in the town’s transformation. The church, a 113-year-old architectural marvel, was moved to a new site situated between the cemetery and Kiruna’s emerging city center. This operation, part of a broader initiative to accommodate the expansion of the town’s iron ore mine, was carried out over two days, on the 19th and 20th of August, without a hitch, culminating ahead of schedule to the community’s joy and relief.
The move, a necessary response to the geological impact of mining activities by LKAB, Sweden’s state-owned mining company, involved transporting the 672.4-ton building across a five-kilometer route. This world-unique event attracted thousands of spectators, who were treated to a spectacle of music, speeches, and performances, celebrating the church’s enduring significance to Kiruna’s social and cultural fabric. The relocation was broadcast live, allowing people from around the region and beyond to witness this historic undertaking.
Kiruna Church, awarded the title of Sweden’s most beautiful building, now faces the city in its new orientation, symbolizing an open embrace to the community it serves. The meticulous planning and collaboration between various stakeholders, including LKAB, the Kiruna municipality, the County Administrative Board, and the Swedish Church, underscored the project’s significance, not just as an engineering marvel but as a testament to the community’s resilience and commitment to preserving its heritage amidst inevitable change.
The next steps involve the careful removal of the trailers and steel beams that facilitated the church’s journey, followed by a period of restoration. The church is slated for a grand reopening in 2026, promising to return as a pivotal community space, not merely a relic of the past but as a beacon for the future.
This event is part of a larger, ongoing transformation in Kiruna, a town with a rich mining history but now facing the realities of its subsistence. The church’s relocation is just one of many moves planned or already executed to ensure the town’s viability and the safety of its residents as mining operations continue to expand. It stands as a powerful symbol of adaptation and continuity, embodying the community’s spirit in the face of change.
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