Modern Estonia

This church was build in three years, between 1860-1863, and sited on the northern corner of Kärdla's city park. Financial support for the construction work came as a thank you from the wife of a Danish captain, after they were both saved from a shipwreck near the coast. The church carries the name of John the Baptist.

Before this church, in the parish of Pühalepa and the capital of Hiiumaa, was consecrated, services were held on the left bank of the River Nuutri, in an old wooden chapel. A constantly increasing population was one of the reasons for building a more capacious sanctuary.

So before 1860 the need for a bigger church existed but there was no good source of financial support. Investing in the local harbour was more important. But then unexpected help arrived: at the end of the 1850s a Danish ship went down in Kärdla's bay, and the crew were saved by the locals. The captain's wife, Amanda Abrahamson, was among those saved and as a sign of her immense gratitude, she donated a large sum towards the construction of Kärdla's new church.

The church is made from local limestone and is a classic 'spoke' design. The walls were covered in and outside with plaster and then whitewashed. High and gothic-style arched windows illustrate the simple unadorned walls. Inside the church there are seats for 600 people.

Originally there was a small and low gable tower on top of the west part of the roof. In 1929, to celebrate the church becoming an independent congregation, it was replaced with a large bell tower. Inside, the altar piece (a picture or relief which represents a religious subject and which is suspended in a frame behind the altar), called 'Christ on the cross', was painted in 1889 by an unknown artist. The organ was purchased in 1904 from the well known company of E F Falker.

Malvaste Chapel sits in a very small village of the same name on the northern coast of Hiiumaa, in the parish of Kõrgessaare, about twelve kilometres west of the town of Kärdla, in an area known as the Tahkuna peninsula. Before 1781 the main inhabitants here were Swedes and therefore the name comes from a Swedish word, 'malmas', or 'fell' in English.

The chapel of Malvaste is made out of wood, with only the foundation being constructed from large quarry stones. Originally there used to be another door on the southern side of the chapel but after rebuilding it was not restored. The bell tower was built later.

Around Malvaste chapel there is a small graveyard which covers a space of about 0.46 hectares (5,600 square yards). There are no regular services on Sundays in the chapel. It is used mostly for funeral ceremonies.

Today Malvaste Orthodox chapel is fully restored and attracts passers-by with its decidedly unusual appearance.

All photos and text on this page contributed by Kadri Pentikäinen.