About the Church
The Roman Catholic Church of St John the Baptist in Salnava stands in the settlement of Salnava, in the Ludza region, in Latgale, on a small hill overgrown with junipers. It belongs to the Diocese of Rēzekne–Aglona and is a local architectural heritage site.
The building first arose as the chapel of the Salnava manor; some sources date its construction to 1865, others give an even earlier date. In 1933, through the efforts of Fr B. Grišāns, the church was fully renovated and consecrated. During the Soviet era it was confiscated and used as a warehouse, and on 10 September 1989 it was blessed again and returned to the faithful.
It is a Gothic Revival church of red brick and fieldstone. In 2006 the assembled community carried out a thorough renovation – replacing the windows and insulating the ceiling. The church still gathers the local Catholic community.
The building first arose as the chapel of the Salnava manor; some sources date its construction to 1865, others give an even earlier date. In 1933, through the efforts of Fr B. Grišāns, the church was fully renovated and consecrated. During the Soviet era it was confiscated and used as a warehouse, and on 10 September 1989 it was blessed again and returned to the faithful.
It is a Gothic Revival church of red brick and fieldstone. In 2006 the assembled community carried out a thorough renovation – replacing the windows and insulating the ceiling. The church still gathers the local Catholic community.