The German Kirche, or Lutheran Church, in Tashkent is a testimony to the historical presence and influence of the German community in Uzbekistan. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tashkent bears historical importance as it serves as a symbol of religious and cultural diversity in the region.
The German Kirche or the Evangelical Lutheran Church is the only Lutheran Church in Tashkent. It was built by the Tashkent Lutheran community by the project of the famous Tashkent architect and the 19th century artist of A.L. Benoit in 1899.
Like the rest of the buildings in the colonial Turkestan the church was built of brown-yellow brick laying out in the spirit of the Baltic church architecture: the style of its construction refers to the neo-Gothic architecture.
During the time when Uzbekistan was part of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union, various ethnic groups, including Germans, were encouraged or forcibly relocated to Central Asia. The Volga Germans, who lived around the Volga River region in Russia, were the most numerous group. They were exiled to Central Asia during the Second World War by Stalin, who suspected them of potential sympathies with Nazi Germany.
The Lutheran church in Tashkent is a representation of this community’s presence. Built to serve the religious needs of the German population, the church’s architecture often displays characteristics distinct from local religious buildings. These European-style structures provided an architectural contrast to their Central Asian urban surroundings. However, detailed records of the specific construction dates and architectural details of the German Kirche in Tashkent might be scarce, especially considering the disruptions of the 20th century due to political upheavals and wars.
During the Soviet era, religious practices were suppressed as the state promoted atheism. Consequently, many religious buildings were repurposed, destroyed, or fell into disrepair. It had been used as a warehouse for a long time, and at the end of the 1970s it passed to the Tashkent Conservatory, and after the restoration it hosted opera studio of the conservatory.
At that time an organ was installed in the church, concerts of organ music were regularly held. In the 1990s it was passed to the newly established Lutheran community.
History of the Lutheran community of Tashkent extends back over 125 years, during which it saw both growth and decline. Today Tashkent Lutheran community numbers over 200 parishioners, and about a hundred parishioners in Fergana.
After Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, there has been a general revival of religious expression. This included the refurbishment and reopening of various places of worship, including churches, mosques, and temples. For the German Kirche, this meant a resurgence of community activities and religious services, now catering to both the descendants of the original German populations and any others interested in the Lutheran faith.
Parishioners of Tashkent church are mostly Tashkent Germans. Before the revolution there were quite a lot of them in Tashkent. Most of them were officers. They got here in the 19th century, during the royal service. Today Kirche, where services are still conducted, is visited by their descendants, as well as foreigners.
The church service in the Lutheran Church is based on the traditions of the Catholic Mass, but is more simplified. Home service in the Lutheran Church is ministered in the German and Russian languages on Sundays.
