Church of St. Jacob, Klaipėda
The Church of St. Jacob (Lithuanian: Šv. Jokūbo bažnyčia; German: Jakobuskirche) or the Church of Lietuvininkai (Lithuanian: Lietuvininkų bažnyčia; German: Litauische Kirche Memel) was a Lutheran church in Klaipėda, Lithuania which was originally completed and consecrated in 1687. Following the Great Fire of Klaipėda in 1854, the last reconstruction project of the church was prepared by Friedrich August Stüler and the reconstruction works were completed in the winter of 1856.
| Church of St. Jacob Šv. Jokūbo bažnyčia | |
|---|---|
Façade of the church in the second half of the 19th century | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Lutheranism |
| District | Klaipėda Old Town |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Demolished |
| Leadership | Prussian Union of Churches (German period), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania (interwar period) |
| Year consecrated | 1686 (first consecration), 1856 (latest consecration) |
| Location | |
| Location | Intersection of Tiltų gatvė (Friedrich-Wilhelm-Straße) and Bažnyčių gatvė (Kirchenstraße), Klaipėda, Lithuania |
Shown within Klaipėda | |
| Geographic coordinates | 55°42′28″N 21°08′11″E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Friedrich August Stüler |
| Type | Church |
| Completed | 1686 (initial construction), 1856 (latest reconstruction) |
| Demolished | 1959 |
| Materials | Brick masonry |
The church was attended by the Prussian Lithuanians (Lietuvininkai) and had a long-term history of Lithuanian-speaking priests. Near the church there was a Klaipėdian Parish School dedicated for Lithuanian community.
Following World War II and incorporation of the Lithuanian SSR into the Soviet Union, the damaged church was demolished by soldiers of the Soviet Armed Forces using tanks in 1959. Despite discussions in the 1990s, the church was not rebuilt.