Messukylä Old Church
Messukylä Old Church is Tampere’s oldest building, dating from the early 16th century. The medieval grey-stone church preserves centuries of local history, including medieval sculptures and traces of 17th-century wall paintings.
Kivikirkontie 2, 33700 Tampere
Open 3 June–30 August 2026: Wed, Thu and Sun 12–8 pm; Fri and Sat 12–6 pm.
Closed during the winter season.
050 599 8215
church caretaker
Max 300 people
During the summer, Messukylä Old Church hosts worship services, concerts, history lectures and guided cemetery tours. A coffee kiosk is also open in the church grounds.
History
Messukylä Old Church dates from Finland’s medieval Catholic period. Based on its masonry and window design, the present stone church is thought to have been built between 1510 and 1530, replacing an earlier wooden church. No exact construction date survives in historical records.
A wooden church probably stood on the site for nearly a century before the stone church was built. This is supported by the surviving sculptures of saints, which date from the 1430s and 1440s. The church was dedicated to St Michael and was also popularly known as Mikko. Sculptures of St Michael, St James and probably St Olaf are still on display. A figure of the crucified Christ stands on the altar.
The building represents the tradition of medieval grey-stone churches. The exterior decoration of the sacristy gable, with its rosettes and crosses, links the church architecturally with other medieval churches in the Satakunta region.
In the 17th century, the church walls were decorated with paintings made directly on the plaster, some of which can still be seen. The craftsmanship of a church builder from Eräjärvi also remains visible in the interior.
From granary back to church
On the Sunday of Christ the King in 1879, after the new church had been completed, the last worship service was held in the old stone church. The building then fell out of regular use for several decades and served, among other purposes, as a grain store.
Restoration of the church began in the early 20th century. Several repairs have since been carried out to preserve the building. The old church has also been used for worship while the newer church has been under renovation, including for Christmas services.
A popular church for weddings
Today, Messukylä Old Church is used during the summer months, as the building has no heating. Sunday devotions during the summer attract visitors from beyond Messukylä as well.
The church is a popular venue for weddings, and its centuries-old atmosphere also attracts visitors seeking a place for quiet reflection.
Altarpiece
The altar features Christ on the Cross (1783), an oil painting on canvas by an unknown artist.