Kambja
Encyclopedia
Kambja is a small borough
in Tartu County
, Estonia
. It's the administrative centre of Kambja Parish
.
Kambja Church burned down several times, but was always rebuilt. The first mention of Kambja and the church at its present location date back to as early as 1330. After the first fire in 1558 it took 84 years to rebuilt the church. Again was it destroyed in 1704 during the Great Northern War
. Renovation was finished in 1721 and these walls are the basis for the present building. In 1874 an extension was built – there were ten thousand members in the parish around that time. In 1937 a new northern tower with staircases was built.
During the World War II
, on August 19, 1944, the church was bombed by the invading Russia
n troops. The new Soviet regime did not allow the church to be rebuilt and the congregation was forced to close.
The church remained in ruins until 1987 when the times started to change and on the initiative of Ivar Tedrema, the state farm director at that time, and with the help of school principal Madis Linnamägi, Toivo Traksmaa and many others, the renovation begun.
The congregation was re-established in 1994.
Populated places in Estonia
Populated places in Estonia are settlements or territorial units within a municipality. Populated places have no administrative functions. A group of populated places form a rural municipality with local administration...
in Tartu County
Tartu County
Tartu County , or Tartumaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia.It is located in eastern Estonia bordering Põlva County, Valga County, Viljandi County and Jõgeva County....
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It's the administrative centre of Kambja Parish
Kambja Parish
-Settlements:Small borough:KambjaVillages:Aakaru - Ivaste - Kaatsi - Kammeri - Kavandu - Kodijärve - Kõrkküla - Kullaga - Lalli - Madise - Mäeküla - Oomiste - Paali - Palumäe - Pangodi - Pulli - Pühi - Raanitsa - Rebase - Reolasoo - Riiviku - Sipe - Sirvaku - Sulu - Suure-Kambja - Talvikese - Tatra...
.
Kambja Church burned down several times, but was always rebuilt. The first mention of Kambja and the church at its present location date back to as early as 1330. After the first fire in 1558 it took 84 years to rebuilt the church. Again was it destroyed in 1704 during the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
. Renovation was finished in 1721 and these walls are the basis for the present building. In 1874 an extension was built – there were ten thousand members in the parish around that time. In 1937 a new northern tower with staircases was built.
During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, on August 19, 1944, the church was bombed by the invading Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n troops. The new Soviet regime did not allow the church to be rebuilt and the congregation was forced to close.
The church remained in ruins until 1987 when the times started to change and on the initiative of Ivar Tedrema, the state farm director at that time, and with the help of school principal Madis Linnamägi, Toivo Traksmaa and many others, the renovation begun.
The congregation was re-established in 1994.