Aitolahden Church celebrates 25th anniversary with community weekend
Aitolahden Church in Aitolahti will mark its 25th anniversary on 23 September 2026.
The church was consecrated in 2001; it is the only church built in Tampere’s Evangelical Lutheran parishes this millennium and is one of five churches in the Messukylä parish, Tamperelainen reports.
The anniversary follows Kaleva Church's 60th anniversary events and precedes the Messukylä Stone Church's 500th anniversary in 2027.
Messukylä parish vicar Juha Itkonen describes Aitolahden as a distinctly modern church, built at a time when congregations expected spaces for more than worship. The celebration weekend on 19–20 September will include events for former youth workers and local residents.
The anniversary service begins at 10:00 on Sunday 20 September and will be followed by coffee and activities for children, such as a bouncy castle, face painting and a photo-orienteering game. At 12:30, emeritus vicar Juha Vuorio will speak about the church’s construction.
The building project began in the early 2000s after the Olkahissi parish hall became too small. An architecture competition was won by firm KSOY with the proposal Suojamuuri, and the interior was designed by architect Taina Väisänen.
Earlier coverage
Catch the full story over at Tamperelainen
