CHURCH BOAT or KIRKKOVENE
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:09 pm
In the 17th century and lasting until the development of improved roads and vehicles in the 20th century, the use of communal boats in Finland to take worshippers to church was usual.
In May 1981 Finland issued a 1.10 M stamp featuring this event in its folklore. These large boats would be owned by groups of landowning peasants, the head of which would act as steersman and supervise the behaviour of the churchgoers during the journey. The boats came to be status symbols of the villages, and the homeward trip often became a race.
A boat with 10 pairs of oars might be 15-18m long. Largest in eastern Finland, reported as 40m long and 3m wide, used 60 oars and carried 100 people
Finland 1981 1.10M sg993, scott?
Source: Watercraft Philately 1981 page 30. Aak to Zumbra a dictionary of the World's Watercraft.
In May 1981 Finland issued a 1.10 M stamp featuring this event in its folklore. These large boats would be owned by groups of landowning peasants, the head of which would act as steersman and supervise the behaviour of the churchgoers during the journey. The boats came to be status symbols of the villages, and the homeward trip often became a race.
A boat with 10 pairs of oars might be 15-18m long. Largest in eastern Finland, reported as 40m long and 3m wide, used 60 oars and carried 100 people
Finland 1981 1.10M sg993, scott?
Source: Watercraft Philately 1981 page 30. Aak to Zumbra a dictionary of the World's Watercraft.