Photography

Photos: Driving a Century-Old Church Down the Road

In Kiruna, Sweden, a huge, 113-year-old Sami-style Lutheran church was just transported three miles (five kilometers) from its original site. Kiruna Church was relocated as part of a years-long project to move the town center away from unstable ground as a nearby iron-ore mine expands.

By Alan Taylor
A tall wooden church, supported by steel beams mounted atop wheeled tractors moves slowly down a road, seen from above.
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty
An aerial view shows the wooden Kiruna Church being transferred to its new location, in Kiruna, Sweden, on August 19, 2025. The church is being moved five kilometers (three miles) to the new town center of Kiruna, because of the expansion of the nearby iron-ore mine operated by the state-owned Swedish mining company LKAB.
A bishop raises an arm during a blessing, beside a large church ready to be moved.
Malin Haarala / AP
Vicar Lena Tjarnberg (left) and Bishop Asa Nystrom bless Kiruna Church, called Kiruna Kyrka in Swedish, on August 19, 2025, shortly before it was moved as part of the town’s relocation.
Several people stand near a road, looking at a tall wooden church that has been lifted onto steel beams before a move.
Mauro Ujetto / NurPhoto / Getty
Kiruna Church, standing 131 feet (40 meters) tall, sits ready for relocation.
Many-wheeled tractors support immense steel beams that hold up a wooden church.
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty
Self-propelled modular transporters were used to carry the 670-ton church and support beams on a total of 224 wheels.
A worker in a hi-vis jacket holds up a complex remote control.
Leonhard Foeger / Reuters
Kees Breedveld, a site manager with Mammoet, the company carrying out the move, displays the remote-control panel used to operate the transporters on August 18, 2025.
A large crowd gathers to watch a church being moved.
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty
People gather to watch the moving of Kiruna Church on August 19, 2025.
Several people sit on a rooftop, looking out toward a church being rolled slowly down a road.
Fredrik Sandberg / TT News Agency / AFP / Getty
People watch from the road and rooftops as Kiruna Church drives by.
Workers walk along side and beneath beams supporting a church being rolled down a road
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty
Workers escort the church on its journey.
An aerial view of onlookers and workers on a road as a tall church is rolling slowly along.
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty
Kiruna Church, seen from above on its two-day journey to its new location, covering three miles (five kilometers).
A person takes a photograph of a wooden church with their phone.
Bernd Lauter / Getty
A spectator takes a picture of the church as it passes by on August 19, 2025.
An aerial view of a church that is being moved as it navigates a tight corner.
Fredrik Sandberg / TT News Agency / AFP / Getty
People watch as the church slowly navigates a tight corner.
People walk along a road, with the top of a wooden church visible in the distance.
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty
People gather to watch as the church passes through part of the town.
An aerial view of a church that is being moved as it approaches a newly-poured concrete foundation.
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty
An aerial view of Kiruna Church arriving at its final location in the new city center on August 20, 2025.
A crowd looks at a newly-repositioned wooden church.
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty
Locals and visitors look up at the church, situated in its new location after a two-day move, in Kiruna, Sweden, on August 20, 2025.

About the Author

Alan Taylor is a senior editor at The Atlantic.
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