Skrunda Evangelical Lutheran Church

The founding year of Skrunda Church is considered to be 1567, as this is the first time the church is mentioned in historical documents. Sources indicate that the church and cemetery in Skrunda have existed since the Reformation period. In 1711, the church, along with the manor, was destroyed by the Swedish army. Afterwards, a small wooden church was built on the pastor’s estate, and in 1750 restoration of the ruined church began.

During the tenure of Pastor Friedrich von Boningen, a new bell was installed in the church tower in 1899, which is still in use today. During World War I, the church was heavily damaged and used as a horse stable. Under the leadership of Adolf Grota, the church was equipped with an organ and an altarpiece. The organ was originally built in 1868 by K. A. Hermanis in Liepāja and restored in 1999 by masters from the Ugāle organ workshop. Before the war, the Skrunda congregation was considered one of the largest in Courland.

In 1944, the Germans blew up the church tower, believing it could serve as a landmark for the Russian army. In 1995, the Skrunda Lutheran Church was fully restored. The church houses the altarpiece “Christ on the Cross” by F. Špērs.