Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by Craig Crowther
01:16 Lena Tjarnberg | Local Vicar

Script:

It's stood at the center of this small town in Sweden's far north for over 100 years....

Now it's time for this church in Kiruna ((kee-roo-nah)) to have its second coming. 

The landmark building - voted the country's most beautiful built before 1950 --  is being relocated 5 kilometers across town, after decades of mining left the ground at risk of fissures and subsidence. 

Moving such a large building is an unusual feat. 

And rather than dismantling the church, engineers have decided to transport it in  its entirety. 

 +++LOCAL TOURIST+++

I’m impressed. I’m really impressed. I didn’t think it was possible to move a church, and now we saw the start of it, the turning around and to make the right direction to move it. I’m really impressed over the whole project. 

Project managers say the biggest challenge was widening the road...as well as removing lampposts and traffic lights. 

But despite the impressive technical achievement. It's a bittersweet moment for some. 

+++VICAR OF THE CHURCH OF KIRUNA, LENA TJARNBERG+++

It's very important that it's moving. But I think people also feel sad because we have to leave this place. It's like you can see the church everywhere in Kiruna. So I think it's like a sad and a happy day for everyone. 

The two-day journey will be broadcast live in Sweden, marketed as slow TV.

And thousands of people - including King Gustaf - are expected to line the route as the church makes its journey to its new - and hopefully final - home.