Buildings and premises

St. Bridget's Church

St. Bartholomew's Day, August 24, 1507, is considered the birthdate of our parish, for it was on that day that Martti, the first vicar whose name has been handed down to posterity, was installed into office. Earlier, Vihti had been a dependent parish under nearby Lohja.

As far as is known, the oldest church building in Vihti, dating back to that time, was dedicated to St. Bridget of Sweden. Its ruins are situated in a lovely spot near Lake Hiidenvesi. In the course of the 18th century, the church fell into disrepair, and attempts at restoration failed because aqueous corrosion was eating away at the structures. The beautiful surroundings of the church are kept in good condition, and each summer a worship service and some other meetings are held inside the walls.

Vihti Church

Around 1760 it was decided that a new church be built on top of Hartanmäki Hill commanding a magnificent view over the surrounding countryside. The construction work was supervised by Antti Piimänen, a renowned church builder, and the new church was dedicated in 1772. The church has two organs: a 26-stop pneumatic organ from the 1920s in the organ loft, and a 16-stop instrument from 1990 in the chancel.

Vihti Parish Hall

Vihti Parish Hall, situated in the parish village, was completed in 1979 to the design of Touko Saari. Having passed the test of time with flying colors, the Hall is a busy venue for daily club activities and a variety of festive occasions. The main parish offices are located here as well.

Nummela Parish Hall

Nummela Parish Hall, with a 200-seat church, rooms for larger gatherings, club rooms, offices, and a large apartment, was completed in 1969 and extended in 1981 to the design of Esko and Tarja Toiviainen. The newly renovated and enlarged (in 2005) facilities are filled daily as people of all ages gather for different types of activities.

The wooden altarpiece "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden" was carved by Uuno Poikonen. A 31-stop digital organ was purchased in 2006 to replace the 6-stop pipe organ.

Cemeteries

The first burials in the graveyard surrounding the main church took place just a few years after its dedication in 1772.

Outside the church you can see a beautifully kept area of 232 graves of soldiers killed in World War II.

Since 1890, most burials have taken place in the Vihti cemetery situated some two miles northwest of the church. The cemetery chapel, dedicated in 1958, was designed by Mikael Nordenswan. The cemetery area has been expanded recently, and a cinerarium will be completed in 2007.

Vihtijärvi has a graveyard of its own next to the chapel.

Vihtijärvi Chapel

Designed by Esko and Tarja Toiviainen, Vihtijärvi Chapel was completed in 1961 on a parcel of land donated in memory of two local children who were drowned in a tragic accident.

The altarpiece "Adoration of the Shepherds" was painted by Severin Falkman in 1870. A worship service is held once a month. The chapel has a 5-stop organ and seats 100 people.

Riuttaranta Camp and Course Center

In the summer, Riuttaranta Camp and Course Center by Lake Moksjärvi is alive with campers of all ages. The new main building, designed by Carl-Johan Slotte and completed in 1992, is an excellent venue for camps and other types of gatherings.

The main building offers accommodation for c. 40 people. The dining hall and classroom can be combined into a meeting area for 100 people.

Within walking distance from Riuttaranta, one of the most spectacular views in southern Finland opens out from the top of Mount Koniavuori.