The old Messukylä Church, built of grey stone, is a typical example of medieval Finnish church architecture. This church, built between the 15th and 16th centuries, is the oldest building in fairly young Tampere: the church is almost twice as old as the city itself. It has been established that the stone building was erected on the site of a wooden church, and is supposedly dedicated to St Olavi, whose images can still be seen here.
The Old Church has seen many ups and downs in its long history. In the 1600s its walls were decorated with paintings, which can still be seen today. Bells were purchased. However, in 1879, when the new town church was completed, the Old Church was forgotten and used as a grain storehouse.
In the early twentieth century, the church was renovated and services were restored. The medieval atmosphere inside the building makes the Old Church of Messukül a popular tourist attraction. However, due to the lack of heating, its doors are only open between May and August.
