Fin is the subject of a legend involving the construction of a church. To get the work done, an agreement was made between a holy man and a troll or giant with dire consequences for the loser. The Danish version features a troll from Kalundborg, Zealand, Denmark. In the Swedish legend, the subject is a giant from Lund with the name Jätten Finn ('Finn the Giant').
Danish legend
thumb|right|Old postcard drawing of the [[Church of Our Lady, Kalundborg, built near the castle of Esbern Snare (1127-1204).]]
The legend tells how Esbern Snare built a church in Kalundborg.
When there was only a half pillar left to erect before the church would be completed, Esbern became afraid, because he did not know the troll's name. Wandering the fields in great anxiety, he laid himself down on Ulshøj bank to rest. While there, he heard a troll-woman within the hill saying: "Lie still, baby mine! / Tomorrow cometh Fin, / Father thine, And giveth thee / Esbern Snare's / eyes and heart / to play with."
A more detailed account of the legend was published in 1654 by Jens Lauritzen Wolf. It appears that it's this version that has been the basis for most later versions. The legend, as recounted by Wolf, has it that Saint Lawrence was building Lund Cathedral but had a lack of both funds and building material. To speed up the construction he made a deal with the troll. The troll would help him build the cathedral, but if on the last day Saint Lawrence had not found out his name, the saint would have to bring him the sun and the moon. If he couldn't do that, the troll would be permitted to take his eyes. With the help of the troll, the construction proceeded rapidly. Saint Lawrence became more and more concerned, and to lessen his anxiety he one day took a long walk outside the city. He sat down to rest, and while resting suddenly overheard the wife of the troll comforting their child, telling him not to cry because his father Finn would bring the eyes of the saint as a toy the next day. Lawrence hurried back and found the troll just about to place the last stone in place in the cathedral. He called him out by his name, Finn. Enraged, Finn and his wife started shaking the foundation pillars in the crypt, but the force of the saint was stronger, and the whole family was petrified, frozen in motion.
Statues of Finn and his wife
As Corylander pointed out in 1750, it's improbable that the statues in Lund Cathedral were meant to depict Finn and his wife. Rather, the legend has probably been a popular way to interpret the meaning of the statues. In fact, art historians still are not entirely sure of what subject matter the statues depict. The most commonly held theory today is that the carving represents the biblical figure Samson, who sacrificed himself by toppling the pillars of a Philistine temple.
Similar legends
The legend of a bargain to help build a church is associated with other churches in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The story related to Eskellsätter's church of Näs in Värmland, Sweden involves a giant named Kinn falling to his death upon hearing his name by a priest named Eskil. A Norwegian legend involves the troll, Skalle, and the construction of a cathedral in Trondheim. There is also a similar legend of a troll called Wind and Weather, who was installing a cross when St. Olaf called his name.