Summary

  • A 113-year-old church in the far north of Sweden arrives at its new home after a two-day journey

  • The church in Kiruna was at risk from ground subsidence after more than a century of iron ore mining in the old city centre

  • Hoisted on giant trailers, the church was moved 5km (3 miles) along a road at a maximum speed of 500m an hour

  • The relocation attracted large crowds. One culture strategist says: "It's like history taking place in front of our eyes"

  • Engineers removed lamp-posts and traffic lights from roads to move the 672-tonne church in one piece

Live Reporting

  1. Historic 113-year-old church finishes two-day journey

    The church is now safely on firmer ground after its historic two-day relocation across the Swedish city of Kiruna.

    We've collected some of the best snaps from its journey below.

    Seen from above, crowds of people line the streets to watch the church be relocatedEPA

    Crowds packed into Kiruna to watch the church's journey

    Workers check as the Kiruna Church landmark is being moved on a specially designed trolley with 224 wheels at a speed of half a kilometer per hour in Kiruna, northern Sweden, 19 August 202EPA

    A specially designed trolley with 224 wheels moved the 672-tonne church

    Seen from above, the church is moved along a highwayGetty Images

    It was wider than the roads, so signs and lampposts had to be moved to allow the church to pass by

  2. Swedish church arrives at 'altar-nate' home

    People on the street photograph the church, now nestled behind some treesReuters

    We've been keeping a close eye on the historic 113-year-old Swedish church's journey on our livestream and can bring you the exciting update that it has arrived at its new home.

    This was no pew-ny feat (excuse the pun): The enormous building had to be hoisted onto specially designed trailers and travelled for two days at a maximum speed of 500m an hour, with road fittings like lamp posts and signs removed to make way.

    Its new home is 5km (3 miles) from the original site in the town of Kiruna, where it had been at risk from ground subsidence.

  3. Landmark 113-year-old church being moved across Swedish city

    People watch as the Kiruna Church landmark is being moved on a specially designed trolley.EPA

    Crowds have been gathering in Sweden's far north city of Kiruna to witness a landmark 113-year-old church being relocated in its entirety.

    The vast red timber structure, which has been hoisted on specially designed trailers, is being moved at a maximum speed of 500m an hour in a 5km (3 mile) journey, expected to take two days.

    The church is at risk from ground subsidence and is one of several buildings being relocated in the city, which lies 145km north of the Arctic Circle.

    The church began its journey with a blessing from the church's vicar, Lena Tjärnberg, and Bishop Åsa Nyström of the Diocese of Luleå.

    Despite managing just 30m in its first hour, large crowds lined the streets to witness the move.

    "It's a big crowd. People came not just from Kiruna and other parts of Sweden. I heard many different languages being spoken," said culture strategist Sofia Lagerlöf Mättää.

    "It's like history taking place in front of our eyes."

    We won't be providing text updates, but you can follow the events in Kiruna by clicking Watch Live at the top of this page.