**Historic Relocation of Kiruna's Iconic Church Begins**

The move symbolizes the broader relocation of buildings in Kiruna, ensuring their safety and preserving community memories.

A significant relocation effort is underway in Kiruna, Sweden, where a landmark 113-year-old church is being moved in its entirety to safer ground due to risks from subsiding land caused by iron ore mining. The historic red timber church, established in 1912, is being transported over a distance of 5 kilometers (3 miles) along a specially adapted road, utilizing giant rolling platforms and self-propelled modular transporters to ensure a smooth journey.

Traveling at a maximum speed of 500 meters per hour, the church's relocation is expected to span two days. This operation is not just a practical necessity but also serves as a symbolic representation of the larger movement of several buildings as the town of Kiruna adjusts to the impact of mining activities that have destabilized its infrastructure.

Sofia Lagerlöf Määttä, a local culture strategist, encapsulated the sentiment surrounding this event, stating, "It's like finally, let's get it done. We've been waiting for so many years." Project manager Stefan Holmblad Johansson, who oversees the move, reflects on the meticulous preparation that has gone into this historic operation. "It's a very big and complex operation," he commented, "and we don't have a margin of error."

Despite the challenges of ensuring the building reaches its new location intact, including protecting valuable interior artifacts like the great altar painting, the initiative has garnered widespread community support. Local residents view the church not just as a structure but as a vital center of spirituality and memory.

Robert Ylitalo, CEO of Kiruna's development company, emphasized the necessity of the relocation due to the risks posed by fissures to the city’s essential services. "There's no risk of people falling through cracks, but fissures would eventually damage the water, electricity, and sewage supply," he noted. The mining operator, LKAB, which is also Kiruna's main employer, is footing the bill for this gargantuan task, with costs estimated to exceed 10 billion Swedish krona (around $1 billion).

The move has become a profound moment for those in the community. For Vicar Lena Tjärnberg, it carries both a bittersweet sense of loss and gratitude. "The church is leaving a place where it truly belongs," she expressed, acknowledging the necessity but mournfully recognizing the change.

As the church inched along its path, throngs of residents gathered to witness this unique spectacle, while Swedish television covered the event live, heralding it as an extraordinary slice of Kiruna’s history making its way into a new chapter and ensuring that memories tied to this cherished building are not left behind but carried into the future.