The current stone church in Utsjoki is the northernmost and final work of architect Carl Ludvig Engel (1778–1840), and it was built between 1850 and 1853. The vicarage, located by Lake Mantojärvi, dates back to 1843.
Church cabins were dwellings for Sámi families or clans during church services and market gatherings, as the journey home to their own settlement was long. The oldest of the existing cabins dates from the 18th century. The cabins, restored by the Finnish Heritage Agency, are small and dimly lit. A stone fireplace, known as a piisi, standing in the corner, was the only source of heat and also used for cooking.
The surrounding natural meadow is stunning in summer: the brilliant blue Arctic gentian opens its petals only on sunny days.
