Haparanda Church provokes many reactions from visitors. Some have found it difficult to get used to this modern church. Others feel that the church's dark façade and bright interior evoke a journey through the darkness of death towards heavenly light.
The old church in Haparanda, built in 1825, burned down in 1963. That church stood on the site of the current bell tower. A model of the old church is displayed in the new church.
After the fire, it took just over three years of planning and one year of construction before the new church could be consecrated on Whit Sunday 1967 by Bishop Stig Hellsten.
This church is unique in its style. The architect Bengt Larsson from Stockholm called his proposal "Rent Hus" ("Pure House"). Simplicity, purity and function characterise the church building.
Exterior
On the outside, Haparanda Church is clad in copper sheeting. The church is built as an industrial building with a steel frame, onto which lightweight concrete panels (0.5 x 5m) have been fitted.
Interior
The interior is beautiful and simple. The nave is functional and spacious. The floor area is 650 square metres (23 x 28m) and the height is 28m. There are 330 fixed seats and 200 loose seats.
Organs
The church has a chancel organ and a main organ. Both organs were built by Grönlunds orgelbyggeri, Gammelstad. The larger organ, inaugurated on 26 March 1972, has 23 stops.
Altar
The altar is covered with an altar frontal built around the various festivals of the church year. The altar frontal was made by Gammelstads väveri.
The altarpiece
The altarpiece was painted by the artist Pär Andersson and symbolises the Good Shepherd. The painting was acquired for the church in 1976.
The chandelier
The chandelier inside the church is simple and suits the church interior well; it has 60 lamps in the inner ring and 120 in the outer ring.
The church porch
The only thing that could be saved from the old church at the time of the 1963 fire is the wooden chest with iron fittings that now stands in the church porch.