A CHURCH IN THE HEART OF THE CITY – ST. JOHN’S CHURCH IN TALLINN
St John's Church in Tallinn is a Lutheran church and belongs to the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The church is dedicated to the Evangelist John.
History and Architecture
- Construction Year: The church’s construction began in 1862, and it was consecrated on December 17, 1867. It was the first church in Tallinn built specifically for Estonians.
- Architect: The project was designed by Christoph August Gabler, a graduate of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts
- Style: A three-aisled Neo-Gothic church with a basilica-like layout.
Art and Music
Altarpiece: Calvary, painted by Karl Gottlieb Wenig, a professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.
Stained Glass Windows: The five stained glass windows behind the altar were created by Eva-Aet Jänes. Ten additional windows were designed by artist Dolores Hoffmann and depict scenes from the Gospel of John.
Organs
- Main Organ: Completed in 1869 under the direction of organ builder Gustav Normann.
- Modernization: In 1913, August Terkmann modernized the organ by adding a pneumatic action and connecting it to an echo organ. The main organ became a concert organ with 47 registers.
- Restoration: Between 2005 and 2009, the organ was restored by German organ builder Martin ter Haseborg. Before starting the restoration, Haseborg also built a new choir organ for the church. His firm restored the echo organ as well, which had been added to the main organ, what lies behind the altar painting. The echo organ is connected to the main organ via a light cable and is played from the main organ console. It accompanies the pastor’s liturgical singing.
Bells
- Church Bell: The church tower holds Tallinn’s oldest church bell with an Estonian inscription, cast in 1872.
- Carillon (Bell Music): In 2017, 25 new carillon bells were installed in the tower, cast at the Royal Bell Foundry in the Netherlands. Every hour, a musical piece – usually a sacred chorale – is played. The melodies change according to the church calendar. The music is programmed by computer and performed by the congregation’s organist.
Congregational Life
- Services: Regular Sunday services are held at 10:00 AM. Devotional moments take place on Wednesdays at 1:30 PM, and noon prayers with the Eucharist on Thursdays.
- Congregation: St. John’s Church has about 1,200 members.
Renovation and Preservation
- Interior Renovation: n 2007, there was a major internal renovation in the church
- Exterior Renovation: In 2010, a thorough renovation of the exterior walls was completed. In 2025, a major new project will begin: the replacement of the church's 100-year-old roof.
EVERY DONATION TO SUPPORT US IS WELCOME AND GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED!
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY!