About the Church
The Plikiai Church of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph is an extraordinarily cosy sacred building in the small town of Plikiai, in Klaipėda district. This wooden church, built in 1932, stands out for its unique architectural solution – its form resembles a dwelling house. It is a monument of local architectural significance that has become an inseparable part of the community over nearly a century.
The church's history began in the interwar period: after the Klaipėda Region was reincorporated into Lithuania in 1923, Catholics in Plikiai faced a major challenge – the town lacked a Catholic church. At that time only a few Catholic families lived there, and the only house of prayer was a masonry Evangelical Lutheran church. Over time, however, the economic situation changed: landowners began hiring workers from the surrounding Catholic areas, so the number of Catholics grew and the need for their own church became pressing.
At first Mass was celebrated in the hall of the local inn, but that was not a lasting solution. Eventually the parish priest of Klaipėda, Canon Adalbertas Danelaudzki, obtained state support and in 1932 built a new church, which he himself consecrated in August. This church had only one main altar, with a wonderful stained-glass window depicting the Holy Family, brought from Germany. Statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Virgin Mary were added later.
During the Second World War and the later Soviet period the church endured many hardships. After the German authorities banned the celebration of Mass in Lithuanian, the number of parishioners fell sharply. After the war, however, Plikiai received a wave of new settlers, and priests from Klaipėda again began occasionally celebrating Mass there.
In 1948 the first administrator of Plikiai parish, Fr Petras Bernotas, was appointed; he energetically cared for the church community, organising a choir, installing two side altars and consecrating the cemetery. At Easter 1948 there was even a shortage of hosts, so many people wished to receive Communion.
During the Soviet period the church faced various challenges, but parish priests such as Romualdas Mizeris, Vladislovas Radveikis and Juozapas Pranciškus Gedgaudas worked to maintain the church and its community. They looked after the building's exterior and interior, laid floors and heating stoves, and took care of the land plots.
After independence was restored, the church saw further changes. Parish priests Saulius Noretas and Darius Trijonis carried out considerable renovation, replacing the roof, renewing the interior, and acquiring a new organ and liturgical furnishings. The church's 90th anniversary was solemnly marked in 2022, showing how highly the parishioners value this church.
Architecturally the church has a rectangular plan, a single tower, and three altars. The main altar is decorated with a stained-glass window depicting the Holy Family. A bell cast in 1870 hangs in the tower.
The church's history began in the interwar period: after the Klaipėda Region was reincorporated into Lithuania in 1923, Catholics in Plikiai faced a major challenge – the town lacked a Catholic church. At that time only a few Catholic families lived there, and the only house of prayer was a masonry Evangelical Lutheran church. Over time, however, the economic situation changed: landowners began hiring workers from the surrounding Catholic areas, so the number of Catholics grew and the need for their own church became pressing.
At first Mass was celebrated in the hall of the local inn, but that was not a lasting solution. Eventually the parish priest of Klaipėda, Canon Adalbertas Danelaudzki, obtained state support and in 1932 built a new church, which he himself consecrated in August. This church had only one main altar, with a wonderful stained-glass window depicting the Holy Family, brought from Germany. Statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Virgin Mary were added later.
During the Second World War and the later Soviet period the church endured many hardships. After the German authorities banned the celebration of Mass in Lithuanian, the number of parishioners fell sharply. After the war, however, Plikiai received a wave of new settlers, and priests from Klaipėda again began occasionally celebrating Mass there.
In 1948 the first administrator of Plikiai parish, Fr Petras Bernotas, was appointed; he energetically cared for the church community, organising a choir, installing two side altars and consecrating the cemetery. At Easter 1948 there was even a shortage of hosts, so many people wished to receive Communion.
During the Soviet period the church faced various challenges, but parish priests such as Romualdas Mizeris, Vladislovas Radveikis and Juozapas Pranciškus Gedgaudas worked to maintain the church and its community. They looked after the building's exterior and interior, laid floors and heating stoves, and took care of the land plots.
After independence was restored, the church saw further changes. Parish priests Saulius Noretas and Darius Trijonis carried out considerable renovation, replacing the roof, renewing the interior, and acquiring a new organ and liturgical furnishings. The church's 90th anniversary was solemnly marked in 2022, showing how highly the parishioners value this church.
Architecturally the church has a rectangular plan, a single tower, and three altars. The main altar is decorated with a stained-glass window depicting the Holy Family. A bell cast in 1870 hangs in the tower.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Plikių miestelio Šv. Šeimos - Jėzaus, Marijos ir Juozapo bažnyčios fasadas (negatyvo reprodukcija).