The idea of building a church on Temppeliaukio Square dates back to the 1930s, when architect J.S. Sirén proposed a grand cathedral for the site. Construction began, but war soon halted all plans. Only decades later, after a new design competition in 1961, did the project come to life.

Brothers Timo (1928–2021) and Tuomo Suomalainen (1931–1988) won the competition with their bold concept Kivikirkko “The Stone Church” carved directly into natural rock. Work began in February 1968 and was completed just over a year later, in September 1969. The final church, reduced in scale from early drafts, seated about 750 people and cost 3.85 million Finnish markkas.