Švėkšna Evangelical Lutheran Church

The need to establish an Evangelical Lutheran parish in Švėkšna arose in the late 17th century and especially grew in the early 18th century, when Lithuanian and German craftsmen from Prussia settled in the area.
The first Lutheran church was built in 1819 on the site where the St. Florian monument now stands, but it was destroyed by fire in 1856. The current church was built in 1867, and the tower was added in 1913.
Some unreliable sources claim that all Evangelical Lutherans in Švėkšna were Germans. On the contrary – the majority were of Lithuanian origin, with Lithuanian surnames such as Naujokas, Gintautas, Kalvaitis, Endrulis, and others.
In 2005, the church was severely damaged by hurricane Erwin. The strong wind tore off the roof, and rain soaked the already damp western wall behind the altar. The church was quickly repaired, and we can still admire this more than 150-year-old building.