Huopalahti church
The Huopalahti church was originally built as a place of assembly for the Finnish speakers of Haaga, as a Suomalaisuuden pirtti (shelter of Finnishness). The first Finnish grammar school of Haaga also operated in the building in 1908-1928. Church services were given there from the very establishment of the parish in 1917. A church had already been built by 1908. Once the parish had bought the building, it was renovated according to Albert Nyberg's drawings and dedicated as a house of prayer in 1928. The bell tower, also designed by Albert Nyberg, was completed in 1932.
Architect, Toivo Paatela designed the renovation, after which the building was dedicated as a church in 1942. A south wing was added to the building, the old parish meeting hall, which was in use until autumn 1994. The alterations of the current multipurpose church were designed by Mirja Castrén. It was dedicated at the beginning of 1975. Architects, Esko Marjanen and Bey Heng, also participated in the interior decoration and colour design.
The annexe, designed by architect, Kaisa Vepsäläinen, was dedicated in 1988. At the same time, the Swedish Lukas församling got its own facilities. The church register office relocated to the old parish meeting hall in 1994.
The church was originally only dedicated temporarily. The plan was to build a church according to Architect Eliel Saarinen's drawings in Huopalahti, on the north side of the railway tracks, in the 1920s. Because of a lack of money, the church was never built. An image of the church on the parish seal reminds us of this plan. The seal includes a Bible verse from 1 Kings: ”Pidä päivin ja öin silmissäsi tämä temppeli, paikka, jossa olet sanonut nimesi asuvan. Kuule, mitä palvelijasi tähän paikkaan päin kääntyneenä rukoilee.” (May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there', so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.)
In the 1960s, there was yet another plan to build the church and replace the old one. When the plans were not realised, the old building was renovated for parish use.
The wooden church has a single bay. Its ceiling has a threefold structure. Artist, Olli Miettinen painted the altarpiece Kristus (Christ) in 1963. The church received the piece in 1975. The old altarpiece of the church, now placed on a side wall, is an imitation of the work, Keihäänpisto (The spear), painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1626, donated by art merchant, Leonard Bäcksbacka. There is also a wooden work by sculptor Eeva Ryynänen in the church, Kruunattu Kristus (Crowned Christ) and a relief entitled Virtaa (Flow) by artist, Auli Korhonen. The church textiles were designed by textile artist Raija Rastas. There is also a small icon in the church.
The organ was made by Danish Marcussen in 1962. It has 18 stops. The three bells of the bell tower are tuned to the major triad, A, Cis and E. The Huopalahti church is used by the Haaga parish.
Celebrations at the church
Members of the church can organise a baptism, a wedding or a funeral free of charge in the church.
The church seats 200. There are 66 seats at tables in the parish meeting hall in the back section of the church. The kitchen and the 100-piece set of dishes are at the disposal of the party organiser. The kitchen is also equipped with vases and candlesticks.