Pälkäne St Michel church ruins 27.9.2015

I had a training camp with my dogs and I drove past these church ruins and decided to photograph it on my way home. The funniest thing is, that I had already forgotten, that the first church I photographed with my dogs wasn't Mikkeli cathedral after all, but these church ruins. It was back in 2010 after an obedience competition. Unfortunately I can't find this photo anymore. 

The church was architected and built probably between 1495 and 1505. The reformation from catholic to evangelic church impacted some changes in the church - all the saint sculptures were removed and the church got pews and a pulpit. Equally to the Iitti church also Pälkäne church was robbed and damaged by Russian troops during the Great Russian Wrath between 1714 - 1721. Foundation of the church started to sink around 1740 and because there was a new church built in Pälkäne 1839, this old church was abandoned. In 1890 the roof collapsed in a storm. You can see the wooden saint sculptures of Saint Olaf II of Norway and Lawrence of Rome now in National Museum in Helsinki. 

In one of the bricks in the doorframe there is a
dog pawprint

Here you can see how it looks inside the church

Vallentuna church, Sweden 18.9.2015

Today I'm proud to present my first church abroad! I participated the Nordic championships for working dogs in Vallentuna, Sweden, with my dog Mervi. For the opening ceremony we gathered around this old and beautiful evangelic granite church. That's why my dogs are wearing their Finland costumes. I had very little time to shoot my photos - I didn't for example take their leash off and I'm aware that with a little more time I could have had so much better photos. I'm also sorry and disappointed that I saw some extremely beautiful small churches worth to photograph, but had absolutely no time for more photos. 

The original church was built already in 1190 and enlarged in 15th century. Vallentuna church was hit by lightning and a fire damaged it badly in 1856. 

The piece of paper tells visitors are welcome

Nastola church 14.9.2015

I have my Italian class in Lahti city every Monday and Friday and today my dogs Mervi and Terttu wanted to come with me, so I decided to shoot a church photo in Nastola, which is a small locality next to my home village Iitti. 

This evangelical wooden church is built in 1802 - 1804 by a church architect Mats Akergren. The bell tower is however older, from 1760 and it was moved to it's actual place in 1804. The church had a complete renovation in 2001, but as you can see, it really would need a new, fresh coat of paint again. The altar painting portrays crucified Jesus, the painter is unknown.