Get Acquainted with the History of the Parish and the Church

Restoration of the Riga Diocese


After World War I, with new national administrative borders emerging, there was a need for a new ecclesiastical administrative structure. The main Latvian Catholic contingent in Latgale was under the Mogilev Metropolis, while Kurzeme and Zemgale were part of the Kaunas Diocese. During the German occupation in 1918, Latvian Catholics from Latgale, together with a German military chaplain, sent a request to the Apostolic Nuncio in Bavaria, E. Pacelli, to seek papal approval for establishing an independent Latvian Catholic diocese. This request was supported by priests from Riga, Kurzeme, and Zemgale. On September 29, 1918, Pope Benedict XV restored the ancient Diocese of Riga with the Bula Comissum Humilitati Nostraes and appointed O’Rourke as the Bishop of Riga with the Bula Comissum Humilitati Nostraes.

Appointment of a New Bishop


On October 4, 1919, the Latvian Provisional Government appointed Professor Jāzeps Rancāns as its special envoy to the Holy Father to handle the affairs of the Latvian Catholic Church. On April 14, 1920, Pope Benedict XV, responding to requests from the clergy and faithful of the Riga Diocese, announced with the Bula Comissum Humilitati Nostraes that he had appointed Antonius Springovicius as their shepherd and bishop, with his consecration taking place on August 22, 1920, in Aglona.

St. James’s Church Chosen as the Seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Riga.

On May 30, 1922, a concordat was signed between Latvia and the Holy See. On July 19, 1922, the Constituent Assembly ratified this concordat, which took effect with the exchange of ratification documents in Rome on September 3, 1922. Following the signing of the concordat, a cathedral was needed for the Catholic bishop in Riga, and with the Holy See’s approval, St. James’s Church was chosen for this purpose (around Easter 1923). On August 7, 1923, St. James’s Church was taken over by the representatives of the Catholic bishop.

New Elevations


On October 25, 1923, Pope Pius XI elevated the Diocese of Riga to an archdiocese and the Bishop of Riga to the rank of archbishop. On February 11, 1924, Archbishop Antonino Zechini officially announced the elevation of the Riga Diocese to an archdiocese.

Formal Solemn Church Handover


On May 3, 1924, the church was consecrated, with its venerable hundred-year-old walls being sprinkled with holy water and the congregation singing the Litany of All Saints. On Sunday, May 4, at 8:00 AM, the first Holy Mass was celebrated. At 10:00 AM, Archbishop Antonius Springovicius’s formal entrance into the cathedral took place. Subsequently, the Pope’s legate, Archbishop Antonino Zechini of the title of Mira, solemnly announced the consistory decree establishing the Archdiocese of Riga and consecrated Prelate Jāzeps Rancāns as auxiliary bishop. The celebrations were attended by delegates from Latvian parishes, members of the Saeima, government officials, and public figures.

Nowadays


On September 8, 1993, St. James’s Cathedral was visited by Pope John Paul II, who, during the visit, restored the cult of St. Meinard, the first bishop of our land and apostle of Livonia. Soon after, Alfons Bromults painted ‘St. Meinard,’ which was placed on the right side of the triumphal arch in St. James’s Cathedral. Next to it is also a painting of Bishop Boļeslavs Sloskāns (1893–1981). The beatification process for this Latvian bishop has been initiated.

Three Main Churches in the Newly Established City of Riga


In 1201, Bishop Albert, the first ruler of Livonia (1199–1229), founded and began constructing Riga. In the near future, the construction of three main churches was also initiated: the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (now known as the Dome Cathedral) as the bishop’s cathedral, the Church of St. Peter as the city church, and the Church of St. James’s as the parish church for the rural area of Riga. Services in the first two churches were conducted in German, whereas St. James’s Church was Latvian until the Reformation. It was dedicated to St. James the Greater, the Apostle and patron saint of European missions.

Origins of St. James’s Church Construction


In 1203, the first St. James’s Church was reportedly built of wood under the direction of Kaupo, the Livonian chief of Turaida, who had received the sacrament of Baptism during the time of St. Meinard. That year, accompanied by his confessor, Kaupo visited Rome at the invitation of Pope Innocent III. The Pope is said to have gifted him a manuscript of the Holy Scriptures by St. Gregory, as well as money (a claim disputed by historians), which was used to build St. James’s Church. Unfortunately, it burned down in the great fire of Riga in 1215. The next St. James’s Church (the stone church) was built during the late Romanesque period, at a time when ancient Riga was expanding its boundaries beyond the old city walls, encompassing the entire area of what is now the old town. The Church of St. James was first mentioned in documents in 1225, though the exact year of its construction is unknown. The builders of this church are also unknown, though it is possible that they were the same as those who built the Dome Cathedral, as both churches share several common features, such as cross-shaped columns, northern portal, arcade bands, etc. During the construction of the Dome Cathedral, there were times when work was interrupted due to a lack of funds or building materials, which could have been used for the construction of St. James’s Church.

Two Periods of Church Construction


From the perspective of architectural development, the construction of St. James’s Church can be divided into two major building periods:

  1. Hall church (second half of the 13th – 15th centuries);
  2. Basilica (from the second half of the 15th century to the present).

Hall Church Type and Its Differences from the Basilica Type


Most researchers believe that Riga’s St. James’s Church was originally built as a hall church. In the early 13th century, this type of church was common in the North Rhine Province of Westphalia, from where it spread throughout Germany and further into the Baltic region. The hall church differs from the basilica in that the latter has a higher central nave compared to the side aisles, and light enters through windows above the roofs of the side aisles. Additionally, in basilicas, the main axis corresponds to the so-called sacred construction axis – from west to east, towards the main altar. This type of church meets the clergy’s requirements for focusing on the ceremonial aspects of worship and the altar.

Confident parishioners wanted to feel as if they were in their usual meeting places when they entered the church. They wished to see their acquaintances first. Thus, they built the main entrance on the sides of the church. St. James’s Church had such an entrance on the north side (similar to the Dome Cathedral), which was later bricked up, although its pointed arch structure is still visible halfway up from the street level. In the early years of the church’s existence, the floor level was much lower in both the altar area and the aisles.

Hall churches also typically lack a transept and have shorter naves. The central nave usually has no more than 2 or 3 bays; St. James’s Church’s central nave has only 2 bays, making the width of the nave greater than its length. This width is one of the most characteristic features of a hall church, distinguishing it from a basilica.

The brick structure of St. James’s Church was built in several stages at later times. Initially, it was white on the outside.

Best-Preserved Parts of the Church Building 


The best-preserved part of the original structure is the presbytery (altar) area. It is rectangular, 12 meters deep and 10.5 meters wide. Initially, light entered only through small windows in the eastern and southern walls. Later, three pointed windows were installed in the eastern wall and a wide, basket-arched niche in the southern wall.

From the rest of the church’s structure, only the lower parts of the nave walls and the bell tower’s construction between the side aisles at the western end have survived. A stair turret was added to the semi-circular extension of the western wall, with a spiral staircase leading to the southern aisle vaults and the bell tower.

The Holy Cross Chapel and Its Later Fate 


In the early 15th century, the Holy Cross Chapel (14 x 7 meters) was built on the southern side, later renamed the St. Brigid Chapel. During the Jesuit period, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was connected to the southern aisle by an arch. In the courtyard, in front of the chapel, there was a cemetery. In 1621, when the Lutherans took over the church, all Jesuit-created artworks were destroyed in blind hatred. The chapel was abandoned for several decades until in 1675, Johann Fischer, a pastor from Sulzbach in Germany, who was appointed as the Superintendent of Livonia, divided the chapel with an intermediate ceiling into two floors and established a school, naming it after Swedish King Charles XI – Schola Carolina. This royal school existed until 1710 when its activities were interrupted due to the Great Northern War. After the school’s restoration in 1733, it was renamed the Imperial School. To this day, memorial plaques for both schools can be seen on the outer wall of the building at 4 M. Pils Street. Between 1784 and 1786, the school building fell into disrepair. In 1867, it was partially demolished, and two warehouses were built in its place, separated by a narrow courtyard. In these warehouses, parts of the old school building’s end walls are still partially preserved, particularly on the eastern side.

The Next Period of Church Construction 


Subsequent renovations to St. James’s Church introduced Gothic architectural elements. The upper parts of the central nave walls and the nave vaults were built in the 15th century, utilizing the basilica type for the church’s reconstruction. The lower part of the tower’s masonry, with its simplicity, contrasts sharply with the three later-built stories.

The Tower Pyramid


After the 1482 renovation, the tower had only two stories. Above them, a pyramid was built on a square base. At the point where the pyramid began, the tower walls were crowned with finials on all four sides. An engraving by N. Mollina from 1612 shows an octagonal tower pyramid, topped with a horizontal cornice above a three-story masonry, and a weathercock at the tower’s peak. This modification of the tower pyramid might have occurred around 1596, after it was struck by lightning and damaged. On June 2, 1736, the old spire ball and weathercock, which were damaged during the city siege, were replaced with new ones made of copper. A copper box containing a memorandum for future generations was placed inside the ball. A similar replacement occurred in the 1980s when the weathercock, damaged by a storm, was replaced. In 1756, the Russian government allocated 600 dalers for the repair and copper sheathing of the tower spire. In this renovation, the slender, octagonal tower pyramid acquired a baroque-style roof-like lower section. Since then, the appearance of the tower has not changed.

The Oldest Bell of St. James’s Church


The earliest records of the bells of St. James’s Church date back to 1480 when a ‘clock bell’ was made by request of Perminder Henrik Molre and Henrik Ronne. It was placed outside the tower under a specially made canopy to better hear its sound in the city. Unfortunately, on February 6, 1482, the bell was destroyed when the Order’s knights set fire to the tower from their castle.

The St. Blaise Bell


Before World War I, a bell cast by Dutch bell founder Johan Schonenborch in 1509 in Kampen on the Zuiderzee hung in a small annex outside the tower spire. This bell (officially known as the St. Blaise Bell) was created shortly after the victory of the Livonian Order Master Walter von Plettenberg over the Russian Tsar Ivan III’s army on August 13, 1502, near Lake Smolnino in Pskov. According to the inscription, it was intended for St. Peter’s Church: ‘I am called St. Blaise. When I ring, come to St. Peter’s…’ Since the previous clock bell of St. James’s Church had been destroyed, this new bell was given to St. James’s Church. It might have been installed in the tower only in 1554. Before World War I, this bell was the oldest in Riga’s churches, weighing 90 kg, while the largest bell of St. James’s Church weighed 3280 kg (cast for the Dome Cathedral in 1556).

Other Bells of St. James’s Church


There are also records from the 16th century about another bell, inscribed: ‘Jasper Rodenburg and Hans Hageman, churchwardens of St. James, had me cast. I was cast by Hans Regens in 1557.’ Two hundred years later, this bell was mentioned in the church records as ‘broken,’ although it was noted that no cracks were visible. In 1773, the bell was removed and recast for use in St. James’s cemetery.

Around 1650, a bell for St. James’s Church had an inscription in Russian. In the mid-17th century, the Orthodox parish ordered it from a Riga bell founder, possibly Georg Meyer, for a church in Pskov but did not collect it. Therefore, the founder sold it to St. James’s Church, weighing 1680 kg.

Between 1675 and 1786, Riga city metal founder Gerhard Meyer cast a 2460 kg bell for St. James’s Church. In the summer of 1915, due to the war, all four bells of St. James’s Church were evacuated to Russia, where they remained.

Restoration of the Church Tower Bell Nowadays


At the end of 1999, the men’s choir ‘Tēvzeme’ initiated a campaign to restore the St. James’s Church tower bell in anticipation of Riga’s 800th anniversary. A total of 3588 Ls was needed for this purpose. Of these, 500 Ls were allocated by the Riga City Council’s Finance Committee. Eighty-six Riga residents and city visitors donated money for the bell’s restoration. On March 24 and April 22, 2001, two concerts were held at the Great Hall of the University of Latvia with participating choirs to raise the remaining necessary funds. On January 25, 2001, ‘Liepājas Metalurgs’ cast the bell, and on February 9, it was brought to Riga. The construction company SIA ‘Asme’ also volunteered to assist with hoisting the bell into the tower and securing it. On June 21, 2001, Cardinal Janis Pujats, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church, consecrated the bell, and it was installed in the tower.

Interior of the Building


Over time, the interior of the building has undergone significant changes and stylistic diversity. One of the few examples of medieval architectural ornamentation in Riga is the small columns at the corners of the choir area of St. James’s Church, with capitals decorated with plant motifs. Alongside the construction of the vaults, another sculptural detail was created: a human figure visible at the intersection of the western vault ribs in the right side aisle.

In 1886, during the restoration of the church’s interior, a decorative painting dating from the early 15th century was uncovered beneath the layer of whitewash in the choir vault. The same composition of painting still adorns the vault today. A fragment of the original coloring of the parish space vaults in the left side aisle is also visible.

Triumphal Crucifix


As a result of the upheaval caused by the Reformation, most of the church’s accumulated art treasures were destroyed during the iconoclasm of 1524. An exception is the Triumph Crucifix found in the church attic in 1922, dated differently: either around 1380 or about 1420. Over time, the hands and feet of Jesus were restored. This wooden cross (2.87 meters high and 1.86 meters wide) was located in the triumphal arch between the presbytery and the parish area until 1922. It is significant as one of the oldest wooden sculptures in Latvia’s small medieval sculptural heritage and is displayed in the Latvian Museum of History’s collection of wooden sculptures.

Church Decoration Work Mentioned in Jesuit Annals


During the turbulent times of the Reformation, the church experienced a second wave of iconoclasm and came under the control of the city (in 1587), but was returned to the Jesuits in 1591. Soon after, the Jesuit annals recorded information about extensive church decoration work. The exterior of the church was painted with portraits of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and patron saints. Inside the church, on the back wall of the choir, a colorful depiction of the Last Judgment was painted. The 1612 annals mention stained glass windows with images of St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier.

Altars


Nothing is known about the altars of St. James’s Church until the late 17th century. Around 1680, one of the earliest Baroque altars in Riga was constructed, with the initials of Charles XI placed in its central segment. Unfortunately, it is difficult to assess Baroque sculpture in Riga today due to the scarcity of surviving monuments from that period. The altar of St. James’s Church was also destroyed; in 1901, it was reported to be in a state of disrepair and was therefore removed and replaced with a new one, created by sculptor Kristofs Mitelhauzens and carpenter Jēkabs Šrāde. Only a few fragments of the aforementioned Baroque altar—angel figures—have survived to this day and are now part of the Latvian Museum of History’s collection of wooden sculptures.

Organs


In 1760, a new organ was ordered from organ builder Heinrich Andreas Koncius in Halle for 3400 dalers. It was consecrated in 1763. Initially, the organ could replicate drum, trumpet, and bell sounds. However, the drum sound replication was later removed because it caused the entire organ to shake. Today, only the old Rococo-style organ prospect remains, while the current organ was made by E. Martins in Riga in 1913. The organ prospect was restored between 1996 and 1999 by students of the Restoration Department of the Riga Construction Technical School.

Gravestones


In the Middle Ages, church floors were made of gravestones and tiles. When, in 1773, the government prohibited the burial of the dead in churches and cities, many family chapels were closed and bricked up. Simultaneously, in accordance with the rational and Enlightenment requirements of the time, an inventory of old gravestones, epitaphs, coat-of-arms shields, and monuments was conducted. Unfortunately, in many cases, there was arbitrary destruction of old monuments. In 1867, Dr. K. A. Berkholcs wrote that thirty years prior, he had seen a dozen gravestones with inscriptions from the 1300s and other dates being used as building materials. More conscientious representatives of the time’s intelligentsia, such as J. K. Broce, tried to preserve monuments from destruction by describing and drawing them. Therefore, information about several gravestones of St. James’s Church is available only from J. K. Broce’s drawings and descriptions. Broce also described the gravestone of Abbot Margaret of the Cistercian monastery. During her time, this gravestone was located in the central nave of St. James’s Church and is the oldest (from 1294) ever found in Riga’s churches. Its decoration is simple, without reliefs or evangelist symbols (as was customary). The text is in Latin, in uncial script. The other gravestones are mostly from the Swedish era.

Since Broce drew the gravestones in 1792, it is possible that at that time the first wooden floor was laid in St. James’s Church, as the remaining gravestones were no longer visible after its installation. During later renovations, some of the more valuable gravestones were embedded into the church walls. In 1845, when major reconstruction work was carried out in the church, a new wooden floor was laid, revealing that very few of the old gravestones remained.

In 1983, in the tower room of St. James’s Church, beneath the wooden floor, the old floor covering made of grave slabs was once again uncovered. This unique ensemble of slabs has not survived elsewhere in Latvia. After examination, this unique monument was covered with sand, on top of which the current tiled floor was laid.

Portal


In 1782, the western portal of St. James’s Church was redesigned in the Classical style. The upper plaque currently bears the date 1225, and above the portico, beneath the prominent cornice, is a Latin inscription: ‘MISERICORDIAS DOMINI IN AETERNUM CANTABO’ (Ps 88:1), which translates to ‘I will sing the mercies of the Lord forever’.

Pulpit


In 1810, carpenter August Gothilfs Heibels crafted a very beautiful pulpit for St. James’s Church in the Empire style. The impressive and massive construction made of mahogany wood is decorated with plant motifs and arabesque inlays. It has survived to this day and is one of the most significant art monuments in St. James’s Church.

Some Renovation Work in the Mid-19th Century


In 1845, an altarpiece donated by Rātskung Brederlo, depicting Christ’s Ascension and painted by Alexander Heibels, son of the Limbaži-born carpenter August Gothilfs Heibels, between 1844 and 1845, was installed in the altar. Balconies (luchkas) were built in both side aisles, and the sacristy was renovated.

Stained Glass Windows


The windows of St. James’s Cathedral are adorned with stained glass made in the 20th century. Three Art Nouveau stained glass windows in the eastern wall of the choir were made in 1902, shortly after the Baroque altar was dismantled and the previously bricked-up central window was restored. The stained glass composition features the popular vine motif: curved branches with leaves and clusters of grapes, symbolizing the Eucharist.

Reconstruction of the Church Interior in the 1920s


Since August 7, 1923, St. James’s Church has again belonged to the Catholics. A new chapter began in the church’s history, impacting its artistic appearance as the interior needed to be adapted for Catholic services. On December 7, 1923, Prelate Jāzeps Rancāns consecrated the cornerstone of the main altar. Despite winter conditions, interior reconstruction work was carried out: side balconies were removed to create space for three neo-Gothic side altars, four confessionals were installed, and a new central altar was created. Pope Pius XI, showing special favor, sent part of the relics of St. James the Greater from the apostle’s resting place at the Santiago de Compostela monastery in Spain to be placed on the main altar. The altar built at the beginning of the century was initially moved to the eastern end of the cathedral’s left-side aisle, where it remained until 1934. Later, this altar was moved to the left side aisle of St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, and in 1997, it found a place in the newly constructed Catholic Church in Ogre.

Side Altars


In the early 1930s, two side altars were made: on the right side in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and on the left side in honor of Our Lady of Aglona. On October 28, 1934, Bishop Jāzeps Rancāns consecrated them. The altars, in accordance with the cathedral’s style, were crafted from oak wood by master Lakstīgala, and the altar paintings were created by artist Šenbergs.

In Brief About the Church Space


The parish space of St. James’s Church consists of three aisles. In the central aisle, there are two cross-shaped columns, similar to those in the Dome and St. Peter’s churches. The height of the central aisle is 18 meters. At the western end of the central aisle, between the side aisles, a tower is built into the interior of the space. The length of the parish space from the western wall of the tower to the altar area (or presbytery) is 20 meters, the length of the presbytery is 10 meters, and the width of the church is 24 meters.

1924. g. V – 1929. g.
pārzinis Eduards Stukels;

1929. g. – 1944. g.
pārzinis Vincents Strelēvics;

1944. g. – 1945. g.
prāv. Henriks Trūps;

1945. g. III – 1948. g. 31. III

Curia Chancellor, also serving St. Jacob’s Cathedral: Miķelis Dukaļskis. For a time, also substituted for Bishop Kazimirs Dulbinskis at the curia and cathedral.

1949. g. – 1953. g. 5. II
prāv. Valerians Zondaks;

1953. g. 30. III – 1954. g. 12. II
prāv. v. izp. Aleksandrs Madelāns;

1954. g. 12. II – 1961. g. 27. III
prāv. Rihards Smilga;

1961. g. 27. III – 1962. g. 17. XI
prāv. Julijans Vaivods;

1962. g. 17. XI – 1981. g. 30. XI
prāv. Francis Lazdāns;

1981. g. 3. XII – 1984. g. 27. XII
prāv. Jānis Pujats;

1984. g. 27. XII – 1993. g. 1. I
prāv. Zigfrīds Naglis;

1993. g. 1. I
prāv. Antons Smelters.

St. James’s Church as a Center of Latvian Spiritual Life


From its inception until the Reformation (1225 – 1522), St. James’s Church belonged to the Catholics. Initially, it served as a suburban church located in the so-called New Town, which began with Horse and New Streets and was incorporated into the city of Riga by walls around 1300. Over time, townspeople who had moved from the countryside and several craft guilds joined St. James’s Parish. Each guild maintained its own altar and priest in the church dedicated to its patron. There were a total of 8 known altars:

  1. The Great – St. James
  2. The Holy Cross
  3. The Most Holy Virgin Mary
  4. The Most Holy Sacrament
  5. St. Anne
  6. St. John the Baptist
  7. St. Martyr Laurence
  8. In honor of St. Elijah

St. James’s Church developed into a center of Latvian spiritual life. There were also altars for fishermen and beer vendors; predominantly Latvian craftsmen attended this church, except for those who had settled in the old Livonian village by the Rīdzene River (where there is now a department store) and who remained loyal to their old St. Peter’s Church. St. James’s Church was also the church of the Small Guild. Thus, St. James’s Church was the church of the democratic layers of Riga, i.e., the common people, most of whom were Latvians.

In 1259, at the initiative of Riga Archbishop Albert II, the Chapter of the Dome Church and the canons allowed St. James’s Church to be used by Cistercian nuns until they built their own church.

The Fate of the Parish at the Beginning of the Reformation


A tremendous upheaval in the history of St. James’s Church was the Reformation movement. According to Martin Luther’s teachings, sermons were to be held in the vernacular. The great schism and the establishment of congregations by ethnicity began. During the Reformation, guilds lost their spiritual character, transformed into professional organizations, and were merged into a single Latvian congregation, which was assigned St. James’s Church, the smallest church in Riga. Consequently, the chapels and altars of the Latvian guilds in St. Peter’s and other Riga churches were abolished. Under these circumstances, the Holy Cross Chapel at St. James’s Church also ceased to exist.

St. James’s Church – The First Lutheran Parish Church in Riga


St. James’s Church was the second (after St. Peter’s Church) where the moderate Andreas Knopkens preached as early as 1522. On the first Sunday of Advent that year, the zealous Silvester Tegetmeier held the first Evangelical Lutheran service here in German, propagating the new teaching. From 1523 to 1582, St. James’s Church was the first Lutheran parish church in Riga. Its first pastor was Nikolajs Ramms. The Council issued a decree prohibiting the Catholic faith. During this period, sermons were given in Latvian, which was highly distorted as the pastors were all Germans. Approximately 14 pastors changed during this time.

Recovery of the Church and Transfer to the Jesuit Order


On April 7, 1582, the Polish king Stefan Batory, who had conquered Riga, transferred St. James’s Church, along with many other properties, to the Catholic Church and soon after to the Society of Jesus – the Jesuit Order. During this time, one of the oldest schools in Riga, St. James’s School, was established. Here, the Jesuits published the first books in Latvian. The first printed book in Latvian that has survived is the ‘Catholic Catechism,’ published in 1585 in Vilnius (a translation by Jesuit Father Erdmann Tolgsdorf from St. Peter Canisius’ ‘Catechismus Catholicorum’). Riga Archbishop Hennings de Sharpenberg began to promote the study of the Latvian language among clergy and nobles.

Returned to the Lutherans


In 1621, Riga came under Swedish rule. This marked another significant change in the history of St. James’s Church – it was taken from the Jesuits and returned to the Lutherans. The Swedish government not only expelled the Jesuits but also sought to completely eradicate Catholicism. Those who did not convert to Lutheranism had to leave the city. Thus, from 1621 onwards, St. James’s Church became the Crown Church. During Swedish rule, it was primarily the church for the Swedish congregation. From 1699, a German congregation also existed alongside it, consisting mostly of nobles and state officials of the Lutheran confession. In 1814, the Swedish congregation ceased to exist, and in 1825, an Estonian congregation was established, which in 1918 was moved to the former Orthodox St. Peter and Paul Church in the Citadel.

Under Russian Rule


In 1710, Riga was occupied by the Russians, and thus St. James’s Church came under the patronage of the Russian Crown, known as the Crown Church. The tolerant Tsarist government under Peter I allowed regular services in German that same year.

The Church as a Warehouse


In 1812, during Napoleon’s campaign, St. James’s Church was taken over by the military authorities and used as a warehouse, storing flour sacks and other food supplies. From June to November, St. James’s Parish held services in St. Peter’s Church.

Returned to the Owners


Since August 7, 1923, St. James’s Church once again belonged to the Catholic confession. Initially, it served solely as the bishop’s cathedral, but on April 18, 1947, Archbishop Metropolitan Antonijs Springovičs issued a decree establishing a parish at St. James’s Church. This parish was intended to be a national congregation without a defined territory, consisting of Latvian Catholics from Vidzeme living in Riga and its surroundings, as well as English and French Catholics.