About the Church
The Pajūralis Church of St Joachim is an outstanding architectural and historical monument in the small town of Pajūralis, in Šilalė district. This church, built in 1908, reflects features of the Gothic Revival and Neoclassical styles, which combine to create a distinctive and memorable aesthetic effect.
The history of this church begins as early as 1750, when Ludwik Piłsudski built the first wooden church in Pajūralis. Throughout its existence, however, the church endured various trials. At the end of the 19th century a proofreading error gave an incorrect date for the church's construction, creating confusion between the years 1569 and 1509.
The church constantly suffered various misfortunes: after 1834 it was substantially repaired, a presbytery was built and an organ acquired. During the 1863 uprising, however, its filial priest Petras Mačinskas was exiled to Siberia for helping the insurgents. Although the tsarist authorities did not allow the church to be repaired in 1889–1890, the greatest blow was a fire in 1893, which destroyed it completely.
Permission to build a new church was refused for a long time, but the priest Kazimieras Žagrakalys did not give up and set up a temporary church in the presbytery. Despite being punished for installing an altar without permission, he eventually received the tsar's pardon. It was only in 1903 that a new masonry church was designed, for which the owner of Pajūralis, Vladislovas Pliateris, managed to obtain permission and funding in 1905.
Built in 1906–1908, the new church became an important part of the Pajūralis settlement. Interestingly, the parish was established only in 1928, and in 1942 the church grounds were enclosed with a reinforced-concrete fence. In modern times, in 2014, the church's interior was repainted and wooden flooring was laid, in order to maintain and preserve this historic site.
Architecturally the Pajūralis Church of St Joachim has a rectangular plan, a single-towered structure with four altars. The churchyard is enclosed, and in the cemetery rests the honoured Pajūralis parish priest Julius Budrikis, who was also exiled but chose to remain in exile voluntarily until his death.
The Pajūralis Church of St Joachim is a guardian not only of religion but also of culture and history, standing splendidly in the small town of Pajūralis and bearing witness to the trials and perseverance of the past.
The history of this church begins as early as 1750, when Ludwik Piłsudski built the first wooden church in Pajūralis. Throughout its existence, however, the church endured various trials. At the end of the 19th century a proofreading error gave an incorrect date for the church's construction, creating confusion between the years 1569 and 1509.
The church constantly suffered various misfortunes: after 1834 it was substantially repaired, a presbytery was built and an organ acquired. During the 1863 uprising, however, its filial priest Petras Mačinskas was exiled to Siberia for helping the insurgents. Although the tsarist authorities did not allow the church to be repaired in 1889–1890, the greatest blow was a fire in 1893, which destroyed it completely.
Permission to build a new church was refused for a long time, but the priest Kazimieras Žagrakalys did not give up and set up a temporary church in the presbytery. Despite being punished for installing an altar without permission, he eventually received the tsar's pardon. It was only in 1903 that a new masonry church was designed, for which the owner of Pajūralis, Vladislovas Pliateris, managed to obtain permission and funding in 1905.
Built in 1906–1908, the new church became an important part of the Pajūralis settlement. Interestingly, the parish was established only in 1928, and in 1942 the church grounds were enclosed with a reinforced-concrete fence. In modern times, in 2014, the church's interior was repainted and wooden flooring was laid, in order to maintain and preserve this historic site.
Architecturally the Pajūralis Church of St Joachim has a rectangular plan, a single-towered structure with four altars. The churchyard is enclosed, and in the cemetery rests the honoured Pajūralis parish priest Julius Budrikis, who was also exiled but chose to remain in exile voluntarily until his death.
The Pajūralis Church of St Joachim is a guardian not only of religion but also of culture and history, standing splendidly in the small town of Pajūralis and bearing witness to the trials and perseverance of the past.