The Anglican Church of the Holy Redeemer is a church designed by architect Johann Daniel Felsko in the Neo-Gothic style. The central facade of the church faced the embankment of the River Daugava. The construction of the church was carried out for several years, from 1855 to 1859.
Already in 1852 the Anglican community, officially established in 1830, received a plot of land for the construction of the church. The first stage of construction began in 1853, but soon construction work had to be stopped due to the outbreak of the Crimean War. After the conclusion of the Paris Peace Treaty, the construction of the temple continued.
Building materials - sandstone, bricks, earth for the foundation - were brought by parishioners from the regions of the British Kingdom. This patriotic gesture emphasised the fact that the temple was on British soil.
The foundation stone of the church was ceremonially laid on 16 June 1857. Two years later the Anglican Church was consecrated by Bishop Trower. The official name of the church is marked on the entrance: "The Factory Church of St. Saviour, Riga".
The church is made in bright red coloured bricks, some of which have a reddish tint, some of which are maroon. Above the entrance there are classical choirs, above the altar part there are star vaults made in pseudo-Gothic style. The facade of the building is decorated with Gothic arches, which fulfil a decorative function. In plan the church has a rectangular shape, even taking into account the towers and the altar part. Funds for the creation of the rich interior decoration were donated by the wealthy Armitsted family from Riga.
Many of the church furnishings were made of oak, the windows were decorated with stained glass. The church was designed for two hundred people. The Italian church painter Bellentini painted a picture for the altarpiece.
In 1940, the church was taken from the parish, however, a year later a plan was drawn up to improve and rebuild the church. At the same time, the church was named Church of the Saviour and was given to the Latvian Lutheran parish.
After World War II, the church building was empty. At the beginning of the 70s it housed a dormitory for students of Riga Technical University. In the same years a plan for a large-scale reconstruction of the church was being developed. The reconstruction work included restoration of stained glass windows and roof repairs. Often, in the period of 70-80s, the room was used as a recording studio, as the acoustics were excellent.
The Anglican parish did not return the church until 1992. Services have been held since 1998, and there are regular concerts of organ music. There is a Sunday school at the church.
Among other things, the church is also famous for the fact that in July 2005, the first gay service in Latvia was held here, conducted by Pastor Maris Sants, who did not hide his unconventional sexual orientation. In the same year, a gay pride parade started its march from the church building, which was met with little sympathy by the majority of Riga residents.
