Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University Architecture and Urban Planning
Jānis Zilgalvis. A Lost Masterpiece of Religious Architecture in Jelgava
2010
Volume 4
Fig. 4. Design for the altar of Jelgava Holy Trinity Church. [6]
established Soviet regime afford to rebuild such a church? Of course, under the post-war conditions, it was an impossible task for the congregation. And so it was demolished: essentially we can say that this was demolition of a church, not of a ruin. A publication by A. Tomašūns includes a unique view of the destroyed church [4, 84]. In 2001, a house was built on the site of the church. All that remains of the church today is a memorial plaque kept in the Church of St John in Jelgava (1845–1847, 1881–1882). The plaque states: To the honour of God and the benefit of the Jelgava Latvian Town Congregation, construction of the Church of St Nicholas commenced in 1904. The work was completed and the church consecrated on 4 Nov. 1907. Building committee: Berris, Biseneeks, Landsbergs, Mühlenbachs, Pauluks, Pastor Reinhards, Baron M. v. d. Ropp, Dr. Strautsels, Weiklewitz, Weissmanis, Weisbergs. At first sight, the church appears traditional from the outside: the nave has a steep ridged roof, a transept with an impressive gable and a tower with a high pyramidal steeple that seems to grow out of the building. However, on closer inspection, several distinctive features can be identified in the architecture of the church, features that cannot be seen in any other Neogothic church. These include the west front, with very tall structures on both sides of the tower that visually reduce the verticality of the tower. There are lower projecting structures at the ends of these structures. The result is a massive façade in which the tower is only distinguished by projecting buttresses, such as are also placed on both side of the splayed doorway, which is of impressive height. The unusual façade is clearly seen in a picture dated 1913 [5, 14]. The decoration of the church exteriors is very restrained, testifying to Art Nouveau influence. The exterior decoration is limited mainly to arcading along the cornice, and some decoration beneath the windows. Unfortunately, we have very limited information about the original interiors and furnishings.
Fig. 2. Jelgava Holy Trinity Church. [3]
Fig. 3. Jelgava Holy Trinity Church after the air raid of 1944. [3]
power within what was still a predominantly German city, and in relation to other denominations. In 1944, in a Soviet air raid, the church burned down along with all its furnishings (Figure 3). The historical photographs made immediately after the fire show that the church could still have been rebuilt, especially since the masonry structures had survived. However, the church was a testimony to the might of the Jelgava Lutheran Congregation and a source of pride for the local population. Could the newly15