About the Church
Rumšiškės St Michael the Archangel Church is not only a religious building but also a piece of cultural heritage and a witness to history. Standing in the small town of Rumšiškės, it graces the shores of Kauno marios and the Pravena river. The church was built in 1860 and is of wooden construction, reflecting vernacular architectural forms.
The first church in Rumšiškės was built at the beginning of the 15th century, although it is not mentioned in the 1522 lists of the Diocese of Vilnius. Later, in 1573, a new church was erected during the episcopate of Jurgis Radvila. Historical sources mention that in 1599 the Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Vasa enlarged the parish church's benefice, and in 1635 Albrechtas Stanislovas Radvila donated lands and other privileges to the church.
In the second half of the 17th century the Rumšiškės church belonged to the Kaunas deanery of the Diocese of Vilnius. Visitation records mention a thatched wooden building, put up after 1665 through the efforts of the parish priest Aleksandras Giedraitis. At that time the shrine was under royal patronage. In the 18th century the church was repaired several times, and in 1739 a new one was built.
In the 19th century the Rumšiškės parish was transferred to the Diocese of Samogitia. The present wooden church was built in 1859–1860. Its administrator, Fr Antanas Kazlauskas, was arrested by the Russians for taking part in the 1863 uprising. In 1890 Fr Povilas Šilinskas began holding services in Lithuanian, taught the parishioners to pray and sing in Lithuanian, and distributed banned press.
In the early 20th century the church became an important cultural centre: it was home to a branch of the "Saulė" society and a girls' school, and the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society. Although in 1913–1914 there were plans to build a new masonry church, the First World War disrupted these plans.
During the Second World War the church suffered little damage, but in the post-war period it experienced hardships. During the construction of the Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant, in 1958–1959 the church and bell tower were moved to a new site. This relocation cost more than 400,000 roubles, most of which was provided by the state, with the remainder covered by the parishioners.
Architecturally, the church has a rectangular plan, with side sacristies, a five-sided apse and a small turret. Nearby stand a three-storey bell tower and the Chapel of St Anthony, while in the cemetery stands the Chapel of St Anne. It is not only a house of prayer but also a place where the rich history and traditions of Rumšiškės are preserved.
The first church in Rumšiškės was built at the beginning of the 15th century, although it is not mentioned in the 1522 lists of the Diocese of Vilnius. Later, in 1573, a new church was erected during the episcopate of Jurgis Radvila. Historical sources mention that in 1599 the Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Vasa enlarged the parish church's benefice, and in 1635 Albrechtas Stanislovas Radvila donated lands and other privileges to the church.
In the second half of the 17th century the Rumšiškės church belonged to the Kaunas deanery of the Diocese of Vilnius. Visitation records mention a thatched wooden building, put up after 1665 through the efforts of the parish priest Aleksandras Giedraitis. At that time the shrine was under royal patronage. In the 18th century the church was repaired several times, and in 1739 a new one was built.
In the 19th century the Rumšiškės parish was transferred to the Diocese of Samogitia. The present wooden church was built in 1859–1860. Its administrator, Fr Antanas Kazlauskas, was arrested by the Russians for taking part in the 1863 uprising. In 1890 Fr Povilas Šilinskas began holding services in Lithuanian, taught the parishioners to pray and sing in Lithuanian, and distributed banned press.
In the early 20th century the church became an important cultural centre: it was home to a branch of the "Saulė" society and a girls' school, and the Lithuanian Catholic Temperance Society. Although in 1913–1914 there were plans to build a new masonry church, the First World War disrupted these plans.
During the Second World War the church suffered little damage, but in the post-war period it experienced hardships. During the construction of the Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant, in 1958–1959 the church and bell tower were moved to a new site. This relocation cost more than 400,000 roubles, most of which was provided by the state, with the remainder covered by the parishioners.
Architecturally, the church has a rectangular plan, with side sacristies, a five-sided apse and a small turret. Nearby stand a three-storey bell tower and the Chapel of St Anthony, while in the cemetery stands the Chapel of St Anne. It is not only a house of prayer but also a place where the rich history and traditions of Rumšiškės are preserved.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Medinės bažnyčios bendras vaizdas iš toliau. Matyti prie jos stovinti grupė žmonių. Statant Kauno hidroelektrinę, bažnyčia ir varpinė 1958–1959 m. perkeltos į naują vietą – viršutinę Nemuno terasą. Fotografas Stanislovas Kolupaila.