Sweden’s iconic Kiruna Church has begun a painstaking two-day journey to a new location, moving just 5 kilometers (3 miles) down the road to protect its wooden structure from ground subsidence caused by the expansion of the world’s largest underground iron ore mine.
Workers lifted the 600-ton, 113-year-old church from its foundations and placed it on a custom-built trailer. The move is part of a decades-long project to relocate thousands of residents and buildings in Kiruna, a Lapland city reshaped by mining activity.
LKAB, the state-owned mine operator, spent the past year widening the route to accommodate the red-painted church, one of Sweden’s largest wooden structures and a frequent winner in polls for the country’s most beautiful building.
“The church is Kiruna’s soul in some way, and in some way it’s a safe place,” said Lena Tjarnberg, the vicar of Kiruna. “For me, it’s like a day of joy. But I think people also feel sad because we have to leave this place.”
For the indigenous Sami community, the relocation underscores broader environmental and cultural impacts. Lars-Marcus Kuhmunen, chair of the local Gabna Sami community, said the move threatens traditional grazing routes and could make reindeer herding impossible if further mining proceeds.
The church is just one element of the wider relocation project. LKAB plans to move around 3,000 homes and 6,000 residents, reconstructing public and commercial buildings in the new city centre. The project ensures that the Kiruna mine, which has produced around 2 billion tonnes of iron ore since the 1890s and holds an estimated 6 billion tonnes more, can continue operating for decades.
The nearby proposed Per Geijer mine, containing significant rare earth deposits, is designated by the EU as a Strategic Project to help Europe reduce dependence on China for critical minerals used in technology and green energy solutions.
Mayor Mats Taaveniku described the church’s move as a “symbol of city transformation,” noting that the relocation is halfway complete with roughly 10 years remaining to move the rest of Kiruna’s buildings and residents.
Written By Rodney Mbua
