Distance to the target from Kompassinaukio in Jyväskylä
Address
Kirkkoniementie 118
35600 Halli, Jämsä
The church of Kuorevesi, completed in 1779, is one of the three votive churches in Finland. The renowned church builder Matti Pärnä (later Åkerblom) was responsible for its construction.
The church is a typical wooden long church with a gable tower for its time, but the two-part onion dome of the bell tower makes it stylistically rare. The church was renovated in 1915. The bell tower of the church has three bells, the second largest of which was donated by Queen Christina of Sweden in 1648. Known as the Queen’s Bell, it is the oldest historical artifact in Kuorevesi.
On display in the church are a sculpture by Ilmari Launis and altarpieces painted by Fredrik Ellmen, depicting the 12 apostles and the Savior. The votive painting is one of the most valuable items in the church. It was donated to the church by coppersmith Markus Wiren in 1835. The votive painting is a duplicate of the painting in Rauma Church, which is the oldest known votive painting in Finland. The poem on the painting was translated into Finnish by Immi Hellèn. The church also features a touching painting by artist Venny Soldan-Brofeldt (1863-1945) titled ‘An Angel Takes the Soul to God.’ The painting was donated to the church by Mrs. Thyra Jurvelius née Serlachius.
