Entire church begins two-day journey across Swedish city of Kiruna

A The 113-year-old church is at risk from landing in its entirety-in a 5-km (3 miles) movement along a road in the far north of Sweden.

The vast red wood structure was raised in Kiruna, which dates back to 1912, on giant trailers, on its way to the new city center.

Travel at a top speed of 500 meters per hour, the journey is expected to take two days.

The old city center is at risk of terrestrial cracks more than a century of iron ore mining. The church step is the most exciting and symbolic moment of the broader transmission of buildings in Kirona, which is located 145 km north of the Arctic circle.

The journey started with the blessing of the deputy church, Lina Jeraneberg, and the bishop åsa nyström from the diocese of Luleå.

With the end of the short celebration, the engines erupted in life and the huge wooden church began to move forward. In the first hour, she managed to only 30 meters, as the wheels of trailers slowly turned under their weight.

The large crowds in the streets were lined up under a clear blue sky, seen in awe while the wood structure extends forward. Safety barriers kept people, but the building passed so much that many said that they felt as if they could have almost communicating and touched it.

“It is a large crowd. Not only people came from Kiruna and other parts of Sweden. I heard many different languages that are speaking,” said Sofia Lagirlov Mittst, subject to culture. “It is like the history that occurs in front of our eyes.”

The man in charge of this step said, and project manager Stefan Halmel Badd Johanneson said: “It is a historical event, which is a great and very complicated process and we have no mistake. But everything is under control,” said the man in charge of this step.

By mid -2010, other buildings in Kiruna were already turned into a safer floor. Most of them were demolished and rebuilt, but some features have been transferred.

These buildings include in Hjalmar Lundbohmsgården, such as the so -called yellow row of three old wooden houses and home director Hjalmar Lundbohm, which was divided into three parts.

The clock tower has been transported on the surface of the old city hall and can now be found next to the new city hall.

Under Swedish law, mining activity cannot occur under the buildings.

“There is no risk of people falling through cracks. But cracks will eventually harm water and electricity and supply wastewater. People have to move before the infrastructure failure.”

The Iron Ore, LKAB mine operator – the largest employer in Kiruna – covers the city’s transfer bill, which is estimated at more than 10 billion Swedish chrons (one billion dollars; 737 million pounds).

The Kiruna Church is 35 meters (115 feet), a width of 40 meters and weighs 672 tons. The vote was once on the most beautiful building in Sweden before 1950.

The transfer of such a large building is an unusual achievement. But instead of dismantling it, the engineers transfer it in one piece, with the support of steel symptoms and are implemented on autonomous standards.

“The biggest challenge was to prepare the way for such a wide building,” said Mr. Johansson.

“We expanded it to 24 meters (79 feet) and along the way, we removed lamp lights and traffic light, as well as a bridge that was determined to demolish anyway.”

Among the spectators were Lina Edkvist and her husband, who was driving from Gothenburg.

She said: “I am not a deeply religious person – I just go to the church on special occasions. But this is part of my dates, history and culture,” she said. “It seems as an honorable because they move properly instead of dismantling a piece of piece.”

For Kjell Olovsson, project manager at Veidekke, the contractor who leads the transition, brought the moment a quiet satisfaction.

“After years of preparation, we finally move. I feel overwhelmed and enjoy the moment. The weather is good, and I am sure everything will work smoothly.”

Among the most sensitive aspects of this step is the protection of the treasures of the inner church, especially the great altar plate made by Prince Eugene, a member of the royal family in Sweden.

“It is not only a hook on the hooks.”

“It is pasted directly on the construction wall, so it was difficult to remove it without damage. So he will stay inside the church during the movement, completely covered and stability. So the member will be with 1,000 tubes.”

This step is much more than just an engineering marvel for the local population – it is a very emotional moment.

“The church was a spiritual center and a place to bring society to generations,” said Sofia Lagerlon Mant, who remembers walking in the church for the first time as a young child with her grandmother.

“This step has brought back memories of joy and sadness for us, and we are now transferring those memories with us to the future.”

This feeling also shares the project manager Stephen Halmelad Johansson, an engineer who doubles as a member of the Gospel choir of the Church.

“This is a very special task for me,” he said. “The church has been built more than 100 years ago for the municipality by LKAB. Now we move it to the new city. There can be no other way.”

For Vicar, Lena Tjärnberg, the moment bears an additional meaning.

“The church leaves a place to really belong,” she said.

“Everyone knows that it must be transferred: We live in a society of mining and rely on the mine. I am grateful because we transfer the church with us to the new city center, but there is also sadness in his vision that leaves the land where the church has become.”

If everything goes to plan, the church will reach her new home in the city center by Wednesday evening.

Swedish TV also broadcasts The entire journey lives as a “slow TV”, which represents a rare moment when it only survives part of history – it is moving with it.