The move was completed just before 15:00 local time – several hours ahead of schedule – prompting broad smiles and applause.

“It’s a moment of joy,” said project manager Stefan Holmblad Johansson. “I’m very, very happy. Everything went according to plan; there were no glitches. I’ve been calm throughout because of all the preparation, but it’s still a relief to see the church safely at its destination.”

To mark the completion of the church’s journey, the parish invited townspeople to gather for church coffee – a chance to share memories, exchange stories, and celebrate that, although the church has moved, its role as a meeting place for the community remains the same.

The work, however, is far from over. The trailers that carried the building will be removed in the next few days and, next week, crews will begin taking out the steel beams that supported the building during the journey, slowly lowering the church to its new foundations.

Once the structure is secured, restoration work will begin in preparation for the church’s reopening in late 2026.