Suomen Kirkonkellomuseo
Private museum at Kimonkylä in Lapinjärvi, showing more than a thousand bells, a bell foundry, a chapel and a narrow-gauge railway; visits are arranged for groups.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Finnish Church Bell Museum operates on the farm of church tower technician Supavit Nummelin in Kimonkylä in Lapinjärvi. The collection comprises more than fifteen hundred different bells: besides church bells, there are ship's, sledge, locomotive, signal, fire and submarine bells. The largest bells weigh up to 2.5 tonnes, and the most distant bells come from Tibet.
The farm also has its own bell foundry, which is located on the other side of the gravel road from the other buildings for fire safety reasons. Nummelin studied bell casting in Germany and casts bells himself. The farm's main building houses the Pyhän kohtaamisen kappeli (Chapel of the Holy Encounter), which has three organs, and the farm has eight organs in total. A narrow-gauge railway about one kilometre long runs through the grounds, and its locomotives and carriages are part of the landscape.
Nummelin introduces visitors to the history, playing and meaning of bells and runs courses, especially on Orthodox bell ringing. The museum receives hundreds of visitors a year, and group trips are made to the site, for example by parishes and museum associations.
Highlights
- More than fifteen hundred bells: church, ship, fire and submarine bells
- Own bell foundry
- Chapel of the Holy Encounter and eight organs
- Narrow-gauge railway of about one kilometre
- Guided tour and bell-ringing demonstrations
- Operated by
- Supavit Nummelin
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is not step-free for wheelchair users.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visitors receive a guided tour covering the history, playing and meaning of bells. Group visits must be booked in advance. Visitors can also see the bell foundry, the chapel and the hobby railway on the grounds. |
