About the Church
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kužiai is distinctive not only for its architecture but also for its rich and eventful history. Situated in the small town of Kužiai, construction of this wooden church was completed in 1946, though its history begins much earlier.
The earliest records of religious sites in Kužiai go back to the 17th century. In 1652 the Samogitian bishop Petras Parčevskis confirmed a donation by Jonas Kazimieras Godliauskas – 36 valakai of land with people were assigned to the chapel. A year later the villages of Kušleikiai and Minkštakiai were donated to the church.
However, as is often the case with historic places of worship, the Kužiai church suffered misfortune more than once. The first great disaster struck in 1944, when the church burned down. Nevertheless, the efforts of local residents and clergy allowed the house of prayer to be rebuilt quickly. In 1775 a new wooden church was built, which became the centre of the parish school in the early 19th century.
In 1873 another wooden church was built, which burned down again during the First World War. After the war, on the initiative of the parish priest Adolfas Keiba, a temporary church was built in 1920, and a reinforced-concrete church appeared in 1929–1932. Unfortunately, this one did not last long either – it was destroyed in 1944.
Services did not stop even after the loss of the church. They were moved to the farmstead of the Jasukaitis family in the village of Ilgviečiai. In 1946, using the structural elements of the demolished chapel of the Gruzdžiai cemetery, the present wooden church was rebuilt and blessed.
Since then the church has been continually maintained and cared for. Reconstruction took place in 1987–1989 – the tower was raised, and the roof and interior space were improved. A window was installed above the high altar, and the sacristy and auxiliary rooms were built around the altar section. From 2012 to 2014 another major renovation was carried out.
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kužiai is a monument of unique architecture. It has harmonious proportions, a rectangular plan, one tower and a three-sided apse. It is not only a religious but also a cultural and historical site, recalling the various stages of Lithuanian history and the hardships the local community has had to overcome.
To mark the church's 360th anniversary, a memorial plaque was unveiled in 2013 by a fragment of the former church's masonry, reminding everyone of the long and turbulent history of this place of worship. Today the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kužiai is a symbol not only of faith but also of community unity.
The earliest records of religious sites in Kužiai go back to the 17th century. In 1652 the Samogitian bishop Petras Parčevskis confirmed a donation by Jonas Kazimieras Godliauskas – 36 valakai of land with people were assigned to the chapel. A year later the villages of Kušleikiai and Minkštakiai were donated to the church.
However, as is often the case with historic places of worship, the Kužiai church suffered misfortune more than once. The first great disaster struck in 1944, when the church burned down. Nevertheless, the efforts of local residents and clergy allowed the house of prayer to be rebuilt quickly. In 1775 a new wooden church was built, which became the centre of the parish school in the early 19th century.
In 1873 another wooden church was built, which burned down again during the First World War. After the war, on the initiative of the parish priest Adolfas Keiba, a temporary church was built in 1920, and a reinforced-concrete church appeared in 1929–1932. Unfortunately, this one did not last long either – it was destroyed in 1944.
Services did not stop even after the loss of the church. They were moved to the farmstead of the Jasukaitis family in the village of Ilgviečiai. In 1946, using the structural elements of the demolished chapel of the Gruzdžiai cemetery, the present wooden church was rebuilt and blessed.
Since then the church has been continually maintained and cared for. Reconstruction took place in 1987–1989 – the tower was raised, and the roof and interior space were improved. A window was installed above the high altar, and the sacristy and auxiliary rooms were built around the altar section. From 2012 to 2014 another major renovation was carried out.
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kužiai is a monument of unique architecture. It has harmonious proportions, a rectangular plan, one tower and a three-sided apse. It is not only a religious but also a cultural and historical site, recalling the various stages of Lithuanian history and the hardships the local community has had to overcome.
To mark the church's 360th anniversary, a memorial plaque was unveiled in 2013 by a fragment of the former church's masonry, reminding everyone of the long and turbulent history of this place of worship. Today the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kužiai is a symbol not only of faith but also of community unity.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Kompozicijoje – Kužių Švč. Mergelės Marijos Gimimo bažnyčia.
Signuotas akvarele averso apatinėje dalyje dešinėje ir pieštuku reverse.
Kompozicijoje – Kužių Švč. Mergelės Marijos Gimimo bažnyčia.
Signuotas pieštuku reverse.