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The Exhibition
“The History of the Turaida
Church and Congregation”
The history of building the Turaida church
Churches have been built on the Turaida church hill
since ancient times. Archaeological excavations between
1969 and 1971 confirmed that at least two other churches
were at this location before the current one. The Great
Northern War and the Black Plague of the 18th century
decimated Vidzeme. After peace was restored, the
Turaida Estate began to build a new church in the
mid-18th century. The work was done by local artisans
and farmers, and the building was erected in cognisance
of local building traditions. The new church was conse-
crated on January 28, 1750. It has remained pretty much
unchanged until the present day. In 1932, the church
became a protected architectural monument.
The Turaida congregation and its traditions
The first Christian congregation in Turaida was
established early in the 13th century. The Reformation
led the Catholic congregation in Turaida to become an
evangelical Lutheran congregation instead. In 1589,
the congregations of the Turaida Castle district were
merged into the Lēdurga-Turaida congregation, and it
continued to exist until 1947. The congregation was
shut down in 1965, and the church was taken over by
the Sigulda Local History Museum. After a 24-year
interruption, a Christmas service was held at the
church in 1988, and this was done at the initiative of the
museum reserve. The Turaida congregation was re-
established on December 26, 1991.
THE CHURCH OF TURAIDA
The Turaida church and church hill,
drawing by I. Siliņa
The altar at the Turaida church
A church was built for the Turaida congregation in 1750. It is one of the oldest wooden churches in Latvia and has
remained at its initial location without much rebuilding at all. Artistic research and restoration were conducted in the
building between 2006 and 2009.
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