Törnävä Church

The Törnävä Church was the first church in the Seinäjoki parish. It was originally built by the Russian state in 1827as a gunpowder storeroom for the Östermyra gunpowder factory. It was later converted into a church through the efforts and contributions of the parishioners, led by the factory director G. A. Wasastjerna. The church was completed in 1864 and consecrated in August of the same year. The church tower is unique, since it was originally the watchtower of the gunpowder storeroom, which was much lower. The architecture mostly resembles the Gothic style, with its tapering windows and doors and highly decorative pulpit and altar.

In the churchyard, the gate post of the old stone wall holds the offering box made by the blacksmiths of the Östermyra steel factory. The inscription above the box reads: “Do not forget the poor only because your own day is joyful. Give gladly and you will also be given.” Money collected in the box is used for community work by the church – the very purpose people are reminded about by the words.
The tower has three bells, two of which are the original bronze bells.