The church at Halliste, a hamlet rather than a village, stands out for miles around. It suffered as so many did during both the Livonian War, in which the Swedes drove out the Russians in the late 16th century, and then a hundred years later when the reverse process took place during the Northern War. However, when wars stopped fires started and what one has to hope will be the last one was in 1959. It followed earlier fires in the 19th century. The church was a ruin between 1959 and 1989 but determination of the local community during the
Soviet perestroika period got it rebuilt and the first service was held at Christmas in 1991. The community was undoubtedly galvanised by their pastor Kalev Raave (1926-2004) who had a career as a communist journalist and a collective farm director before turning to the church. These earlier roles gave him the local contacts he needed for materials and money and then perestroika enabled him to raise funds abroad, well ahead of other churches who only established contacts after re-independence. His spirit clearly lives on in the enthusiastic and widespread congregation that now attends the church.
The exterior follows the Gothic designs of the 19th-century building, which replaced the one destroyed by lightning in 1863. An altar piece by Jüri Arrak, Estonia's most famous contemporary artist, inevitably dominates the whole interior. The church seats 800, and often does for concerts, even though it is situated in the heart of the countryside. Hopefully other works of art will soon cover its plain walls.
Halliste Church has an interesting history. In 1504, the church was first
mentioned. The oldest parts of the present church date from the second
half of the 15th century. In 1701, the Russians burnt the parsonage to the
ground, a year later an attempt was made to set fire to the church as well.
There are records of another arson in 1706. In 1713 the restoration of the
church began. On 10 June, 1863, at 6.30 am, a thunderstorm began and the
only lightning set fire to the tower of the church, as a result of which the
church was totally destroyed in two hours. A new cornerstone was placed in
1864 and Provost Lenzi consecrated the church in 1867. The last fire was in
1959 and between 1989 and 1991 on the initiative of pastor Kalev Raave the
church was restored with the enthusiastic support and contributions of lots
of Estonians. Jüri Arrak, one of the most renowned contemporary Estonian
artists is the author of the altarpiece and painting Saint Ann with Virgin
Mary. The Mother of Halliste sculpture is by Aime Kuulbusch. A monument
to the War of Independence stands in the park next to the church.
