The project of restoring the tower of St Mary’s Church has started
Tartu St. Mary’s Church has had a major role in the development of Estonia into an independent state and nation. In 1833, Tartu St Mary’s parish congregation and the Estonian speaking Lutheran congregation of the town joined to form Tartu St Mary’s Congregation, which was also the first congregation of Estonians. St Mary’s Church was completed and consecrated as the congregation’s church on 11 January 1842. The congregation became one of the spiritual centres of Tartu – several great figures of the era known as the Estonian National Awakening were the members of the congregation, of whom Johann Voldemar Jannsen was the prime developer and organiser of the first Estonian Song Festival.
For this reason, St Mary’s Church has also been called the birthplace of Estonian song festivals – the Estonian Song Festival church. Adalbert Hugo Willigerode, the reverend of the congregation, was the leader of the song festival main committee, the rehearsal of massed choirs was held at the church and the festive trumpet calls from the tower of St Mary’s Church declared the First Song Festival open.
Accordingly, the history of one congregation reflects the deep yearning hided in the hearts of Estonians. In this yearning, also the nature of the church took shape: the church is, first and foremost, a congregation joined into one by love and God’s grace. The apostle John has written: “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Tartu St Mary’s Church as the birthplace of the song festival is a symbol of spirituality that joins the nation into one and gives it a purpose of being culturally unique. Therefore, the restoration of St Mary’s Church is not an obligation but an opportunity for each of us to become a church builder. This allows us to be part of a colourful canvas of history with its threads reflecting the charm and sufferings of human life. Every thread has its own place and none of them is redundant.
This is why you, good soul, may also be with us – be a church builder.
For that, we ask you to make a special-purpose donation to the foundation Tartu Maarja Kiriku SA on their bank account No. EE132200221021269201 in Swedbank.
The amount you can spare is yours to decide. A little becomes a lot and together we can do everything!
You can also support us by phone, calling at the following numbers (which only work within Estonia):
900 1842 – to donate 5 euros
900 1941 – to donate 10 euros
900 2019 – to donate 50 euros
There are many reasons why St Mary’s Church needs to be restored. Six good friends of ours have opened their heart and share their reasons for supporting us in the videos, which you will find on our Youtube channel “Taastame Tartu Maarja kiriku” (Restoring Tartu St Mary’s Church).
If you have any questions and have not found the answers yet, please contact the congregation or the foundation, whose details are found in the footer of this page.