News from the construction site

Although July is traditionally a holiday month, work at Turku Cathedral has continued without interruption. Conservation work has progressed steadily, and a vast scaffold structure has now been erected inside the church for the cleaning and inspection of the vaults. According to folklore, the paintings on the vaults of medieval churches were once created by filling the entire church with sand so that painters could reach the ceiling. Whether fact or legend, modern scaffolding serves the same purpose today. This time, the scaffolding has been provided by Telinekataja Oy, for whom the installation has presented quite a challenge. The structures must not lean against the walls of Finland’s national shrine. Thanks to expertise and craftsmanship, however, the task has been carried out successfully.

The first real demolition has also begun. Among the areas being dismantled are the vergers’ staff facilities in the sacristy basement. These basement spaces date back to the 1920s, when a boiler room and coal storage were built beneath the sacristy. Until then, Turku Cathedral had been heated by stoves located in the nave. By the early twentieth century, however, this system had become hazardous, as vergers regularly had to climb into the attic to ensure that sparks from deteriorating flues had not escaped and ignited the roof structure. The boiler room beneath the sacristy continued to heat the Cathedral until the 1970s, when the building was connected to the district heating network. At the same time, new underground facilities were excavated in the Unikankare mound under the Cathedral for district heating and other technical systems. To make way for these works, some of those buried on the mound were reinterred in the Turku Cemetery, where they continue their eternal rest.

Now the vergers’ facilities in the sacristy basement are once again being reshaped to better meet the practical requirements of modern use. The transformation has already begun with the demolition of partition walls and other structures. The demolition work is being carried out by Japusa Oy from Naantali.

Domcafé, too, has been stripped of its interior furnishings, revealing the medieval walls and brick floor in all their beauty. Some observers noticed what appeared to be the shape of a cross within the brick pattern, perhaps left there by a medieval mason. “Has this really been beneath our feet all this time?” one employee remarked. Everywhere one looks, there are signs that Turku Cathedral has been cherished with exceptional devotion throughout the centuries.

June at the Cathedral has been largely devoted to cleaning work. A major component of the Cathedral’s renovation is conservation. Over the years, a considerable amount of dirt has accumulated on the surfaces, so everything must be thoroughly cleaned. At the same time, any damage is also repaired. A comprehensive survey of structural and surface damage was carried out a couple of years ago in order to assess the scope of the work for the project plan. The conservation work covers the entire church interior, all the way up to the vaults. During June, some scaffolding has already been installed inside the church so that conservators can carry out their work at height.

The last thorough conservation campaign in the Cathedral took place in the 1970s. At that time, the work also included cleaning surfaces and carrying out local repainting. The frescoes in the chancel were also cleaned and restored, as cracks had formed in them. The restoration carried out 50 years ago has held up well to this day. Nevertheless, there is once again much to conserve in the church. This time, the conservation work is being carried out by OSK Rotunda.

Archaeological excavations have continued inside Domcafé, conducted by Muuritutkimus Oy. In June, the excavations were extended to the area outside the café, along the southern wall of the church, where a terrace for the café is being prepared. Archaeologists were also able to document finds inside the church when, in connection with alterations to the altar, a broken gravestone stored in a box was discovered beneath the altar structure. The stone, belonging to the Lübeck-born merchant Gewert Bugenhagen, dates back to the 17th century. It had been left in the box in its original place beneath the altar during the renovation in the 1920s. At that time, the archaeologist Iikka Kronqvist wrote on an accompanying note in the box the words: “Christus ist mein Leben und Sterben ist mein Gewinn. Dieser Stein und Stelle gehöret Gewert Bugenhagen und seiner Geerben zu. I. Kronqvist.” (“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. This stone and place belong to Gewert Bugenhagen and his heirs. I. Kronqvist.”)

In June, a blessing of the renovation construction site was also held in the Cathedral. In her address, Dean Aulikki Mäkinen reminded the audience that the church builders of this generation have been given a unique and meaningful task: to build and care for a shared home where everyone can feel at ease. On 17 June, the Cathedral marked its 726th anniversary. In another 726 years, someone may say of our generation: it was then that they, in their turn, repaired this church.

Additionally, five information boards have been installed outside the church, providing brief insights into the renovation and the history of the Cathedral. The boards also include a prayer for those waiting for the restoration to be completed:

God,
Times is slow when one is waiting.
The church that is important to me is being renovated,
and I cannot enter there yet.
Grant me patience.
Thankfully, you are everywhere and always.
I pray:
Hold me up, as the centuries old floor holds those who walk upon it,
Give me a place of rest, like the church pew does to those who are weary.
Protect me, as the strong walls protect those within them,
until I can return here again.
Amen.

Once the work has begun, there has been plenty of activity inside the Cathedral. The first major task is to protect the structures of the Cathedral in preparation for the construction site. In addition, the side chapels are sealed with protective coverings to prevent construction dust from entering them during the renovation. (Apart from restoration work, essentially no other work is carried out in the side chapels.) This phase will take several months, but it is important to carry it out very carefully in order to avoid damage and impacts.

Archaeological investigations of the Domcafé extension area, that is, the former brick storage, are also underway. It is estimated that around 4,500 people have been buried beneath Turku Cathedral, but the Unikankare hill surrounding the Cathedral served as a burial ground for the people of Turku until the late 18th century. Therefore, each excavation on the church hill inevitably brings to light the remains of past residents of Turku. After the excavations, the individuals who have been buried beneath the brick storage will be reinterred in their own burial place beneath the chapel. Excavations in the brick storage are necessary due to the technical requirements of the Domcafé extension, such as water supply and drainage systems. The current Domcafé area was already connected to the Cathedral’s water and sewage systems in the 1990s.

At the same time, the plans are being continuously refined. Architects and the contractor review the implementation and seek the best solutions to challenging issues. Technical designers draw plans and maps showing routes for cables, pipes, and conduits, as well as required spaces, supports, and more. The implementation of the restoration plans is being practically prepared with increasingly detailed designs. And of course, everything is carefully scheduled and organized to avoid delays.

The summer will be a busy period at the site, as there is a great deal to be done. Nevertheless, the work is progressing smoothly under the guidance of skilled professionals.

The construction contract for Turku Cathedral was signed on 7 April 2026. NCC Suomi Oy was selected as the contractor for the project. Work began immediately, and the parish union handed over the Cathedral to NCC as a construction site. “Take good care of our church,” instructed Kalle Luoma, Director of Real Estate for the parish union, to Esa Lehmusvuori, Regional Director for Western Finland at NCC Suomi Oy. NCC has also approached the project with great care and respect for the Cathedral. This is evident in the systematic approach, thoroughness, and initiative shown by the company’s employees in the planning work.

During April, fencing was already erected around the Cathedral to separate the construction site from its surroundings. The lower steps of the church will continue to serve as a resting place for passers-by and as a stage for events even during the renovation. The construction site offices will be located on the north side of the church, opposite the Åbo Akademi University Library. Inside the Cathedral, protective structures have also begun to be installed. The side chapels are largely unaffected by this renovation, which is why some of the church’s movable items are stored there, and the chapels are protected with coverings against dust and the like.

NCC publishes a weekly site bulletin in Finnish, which can be ordered as a newsletter to your email via NCC’s website if desired. Subscribe to NCC’s weekly bulletin (in Finnish) via this link.

Photo: Simo Ahtee