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Tornehamns kyrka

Address
Tornehamn, 981 93, Björkliden
Municipality
Kiruna Kommun
Denomination
Church of Sweden
Associated diocese
Diocese of Luleå

Tornehamns kyrka stands in the small settlement of Tornehamn in northern Sweden, near the Norwegian border. Its origins are linked to the construction of the Ofotenbanan railway line, though the present building is a much later, purpose-built church for the local community.



The story of Tornehamn's first place of worship begins in 1899, when a chapel was erected here during the building of the Ofotenbanan railway, which links Sweden's iron-ore fields to the Norwegian coast. Once the railway construction was complete, that original chapel was dismantled, leaving the settlement without a dedicated church for many decades.

The church seen today is a more recent addition, built through a joint effort between Kiruna Municipality and Jukkasjärvi parish. It was inaugurated on 13 September 1987 by Bishop Gunnar Weman, belonging to Jukkasjärvi parish within the Diocese of Luleå.

Inside, several of the church's fittings were made specifically for the building. The altar cross, ambo, font and candlesticks were crafted by Ulrik Lidström, while the pews, altar rail and altar table were made by joiners from Kiruna Municipality. Floral decorations were the work of Siv Enmark. The church bell, weighing around 75 kilograms, was cast at the Bergholtz bell foundry in Sigtuna, and the church also houses a harmonium rather than a full pipe organ.

Nearby lies the so-called rallarkyrkogården, a graveyard associated with the navvies (rallare) who worked on the railway, consecrated as a burial ground in 1902. It stands as a quiet reminder of the harsh conditions endured by railway workers in this remote stretch of northern Sweden.

Opening hours

Opening hours have not been confirmed for the current date. This does not mean the church is closed.

Check access with the parish before travelling. Services and seasonal changes can affect visits.

Jukkasjärvi församling

Tornehamns kyrka

Tornehamns kyrka stands in the small settlement of Tornehamn in northern Sweden, near the Norwegian border. Its origins are linked to the construction of the Ofotenbanan railway line, though the present building is a much later, purpose-built church for the local community.

Tornehamn, 981 93, Björkliden

Explore this church: Tornehamns kyrka

Church information: Svenska kyrkan, Platser · CC BY 4.0. Each church page includes its credits and visiting notes.

Other churches in the same diocese

Basic listing

Pålkems kyrka

Pålkems kyrka stands in the far south-east of Gällivare parish, some seventy miles from the town of Gällivare itself. It is the oldest church outside the main settlement, and its plain white timber form marks…

96194, Mårdudden

View church details: Pålkems kyrka

Sources & credits

Provider catalogue data: Svenska kyrkan, Platser, CC BY 4.0. Separately credited descriptions retain their stated source and licence terms. Catalogue and visiting data reformatted from the provider. The English guide combines and abridges separately credited sources below.

Provider record updated: 19 Mar 2024. This is not an independent verification date.

Source record: efdf4ff8-592b-4b59-99f3-bc7767072ff1

Guide sources

This English guide combines, abridges and translates the sources below with AI assistance, with editorial contributions by Churches in Sweden. It has not been independently verified. The adapted guide text is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photographs and map data have their own terms.

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Church data retrieved 24 Sep 2026. Visiting details have not been independently verified.

Sources, licences & reuse

Independent guide

Churches in Sweden is an independent guide. It is not an official Svenska kyrkan website and does not imply sponsorship or endorsement.

Church information

Source: Svenska kyrkan — Platser, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. English adaptations by Churches in Sweden are identified on each profile. Our adaptations solely from Platser are offered under CC BY 4.0. Guides combining Wikipedia with other compatible sources are identified individually and offered under CC BY-SA 4.0; this covers that guide text, not the whole website. Separately credited third-party material retains its stated terms. Independently written descriptions are identified on their profiles. Imported material has not been independently verified. Original names and visiting details are retained; presentation is reformatted. Each profile identifies its source record and any additional supplied credits.

You may reuse the licensed church material under CC BY 4.0, including commercially, with the required attribution, licence link and indication of changes. No additional site restriction overrides those rights. The licence does not automatically cover separately credited images or map data.

Provider disclaimer

Svenska kyrkan supplies Platser data without guaranteeing that it is correct, current, complete across its organisation, or always available. The material is provided as-is and as-available, subject to the licence’s disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability.

Svenska kyrkan kan ej garantera att den data som finns i Platser:
– är korrekt.
– är aktuell.
– är komplett för hela Svenska kyrkans organisation.
– alltid är tillgänglig.

Preserved provider agreement · Full licence

Automatic diocese associations use the organisation codes from Svenska kyrkan UnitAPI. An association does not establish ownership or denomination. External editorial sources are credited separately.

Map and photographs

Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL and © OpenMapTiles. Tiles and style are served by World Class Maps. Map rendering uses MapLibre GL JS. The map’s own attribution remains visible.

Photographs are credited individually with their own licence or permission. The API data licence does not automatically cover photographs. No images are imported automatically.