An earlier parish church in Lahti, built in 1890, was as long back as in the 1920s found to be too small, due to the town's rapid population growth from a few hundred in the 1880s to over 8,000 in the 1920s.

The exterior of the church building is constructed mostly of red brick, with a massive cast concrete belfry rising from its roof to a height of 40 metres (130 ft) above the surrounding terrain.

Viewed from the main entrance, the nave of the church narrows towards the chancel, located in one of the northern corner of the triangle, and the fan-shaped ceiling becomes gradually lower, creating an impression of a theatre or concert hall.

The southerly elevation, with the main entrance facing towards the city's central market square, is dominated by a pattern of 52 small windows, forming the shape of a large cross.

For this reason, the church is used as a concert venue for the annual Lahti International Organ Festival, as well as frequently hosting other music performances.

[5] Ristinkirkko is situated in a dominant position in the Lahti cityscape, in the vicinity of the market square, the city hall designed by Eliel Saarinen, and other notable buildings.