The old chuch of Isokyrö

Dedicated to St. Laurentius, this single-nave grey stone church stands proudly on the banks of the Kyrönjoki River. Since 1304, it has served as a striking monument to the ancient administrative center of the historic Pohjankyrö region. According to local folklore, a wooden church built by monastic monks originally stood on this site. The year 1304 is believed to mark the construction of this first wooden sanctuary.

Fascinating myths surround the building of the church. One popular legend tells of a strongman named Tohni from Töysä, who carried a massive boulder all the way from Simpsiö in Lapua. This giant stone was laid into the church’s western gable, and the window beneath it is still known today as “Tohni’s Window”.

The church’s most remarkable treasure is its collection of 114 vivid wall paintings, commissioned by dean Jaakko Geet in the 1560s. Each row of artwork forms a continuous visual narrative wrapping around the entire interior.

In 1666, the vicar, Brenner, ordered the paintings to be covered with whitewash. They remained hidden from sight for over two centuries. The historic murals were rediscovered and uncovered in 1885, but it was not until 1927–1936 that they were fully restored to their current glory by artist Oskari Niemi.