Daugavgrīva White Church

Daugavgrīva White Church (Latvian: Daugavgrīvas Baltā baznīca) is a Lutheran church in the Vecmīlgrāvis district of Riga, the capital of Latvia. It is a parish church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. The church is situated at the address 50 Baltāsbaznīcas iela.[1]

Daugavgrīva White Church
Daugavgrīvas Baltā baznīca
Daugavgrīva White Church in 2002
Map
57°2′11.99″N 24°5′14.33″E / 57.0366639°N 24.0873139°E / 57.0366639; 24.0873139
LocationRiga
CountryLatvia
DenominationLutheran

History

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The church was built at the very end of the eighteenth century, although there was probably an earlier church on the site. Its name "white church" is derived from its white-painted wooden construction. Situated beside the river, closer to the sea than Riga city centre, it was for many years considered "the fishermen's church". Local tradition suggests that the tower was built to serve also as a lighthouse, although no evidence supports the claim; it is more likely simply to have been used by seafarers as a fixed point of reference for navigation.

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References

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  1. ^ Banga, Vita; Marina Levina; et al. (2007). Rīgas dievnami: Arhitektūra un māksla. Riga's Churches. Architecture and Art (in Latvian, German, English, and Russian). Riga: Zinātne, Apgads Mantojums. ISBN 978-9984-823-00-3. OCLC 217266501.