Church of Luther (), or Torņakalns Church () after its geographical location in

Torņakalns Torņakalns is a neighbourhood of Riga, Latvia located on the western bank of the Daugava River (neighbourhoods along this shore are collectively known as Pārdaugava). The name Torņakalns ('' English: Tower Hill'') derives from a fortified to ...

, is a

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...

Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...

, the capital of

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

. It is a parish church of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (, or LELB) is a Lutheranism, Lutheran Protestant church in Latvia. Latvia's Lutheran heritage dates back to the Protestant Reformation, Reformation. Both the Nazi and communist regimes persecuted the c ...

. The church is situated at the address 3/5 Torņakalns Street.

Architecture

It is built in the traditional neo-gothic architectural style, with soaring arches, a tall spire, and a traditional

cruciform A cruciform is a physical manifestation resembling a common cross or Christian cross. These include architectural shapes, biology, art, and design. Cruciform architectural plan Christian churches are commonly described as having a cruciform ...

shape. It is noted for its massive iron chandeliers.Details a
this
website. The Riga Luther Church was built according to the design of

Johann von Koch Johann von Koch (4 September 1850 – 12 March 1915) was a Sudeten Germans, German architect and professor. He was the author of numerous public buildings in Riga, Latvia. His work, influenced heavily by Italian Renaissance architecture, represen ...

and is the first church in Latvia named after Luther. The church was consecrated on February 24, 1891. Riga Luther Church is a traditional Neo-Gothic building with a pointed tower at the western end, a distinct Latin cross layout, an extended chancel, and a trapezoidal apse. The façades of the church alternate between niches, window openings, and cornices inspired by Gothic architecture, and rosettes and arches borrowed from Romantic-style buildings. The yellowish walls are given visual richness by the rhythmic arrangement of small plastered sections, as well as the decoration of portals, windows, and corners with red brick bands. The church interior was designed by

Wilhelm Bockslaff Wilhelm Ludwig Nikolai Bockslaff (, ; , Riga – 9 March 1945, Poznań) was a Baltic German architect working in Riga. He is considered one of the most important representatives of Eclecticism, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles in the city. He i ...

, a notable expert in the application of Gothic style. The key interior elements — the pulpit and choir stalls — are well balanced with the overall atmosphere of the building. The church seats 1,000 people and has standing room for 250. One particularly unique feature of the church is its massive wrought-iron chandeliers. Two years after the church was consecrated — in 1893 — the company '' E. F. Walcker & Co.'' from

Ludwigsburg Ludwigsburg (; Swabian German, Swabian: ''Ludisburg'') is a Cities of Germany, city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, about north of Stuttgart city centre, near the river Neckar. It is the largest and primary city of the Ludwigsburg (district), Lu ...

built an

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

there.

References

Churches in Riga Lutheran churches in Latvia {{Lutheran-church-stub