The Anglican community in Estonia worships in the Puhavaimu Church in Tallinn. Its existence was first recorded in 1316 and its completion dates back to the 15th century. Until the Reformation the church also served as a hospice chapel.
Worship is conducted by the Lutheran Dean of Tallinn, the Rev. Gustav Piir, and the Anglican Chaplain in Helsinki, the Rev. Rupert Moreton. The church has forged strong links, since Estonia regained her independence in 1991, not least with the Anglican dioceses of Rochester and Portsmouth in England, but also with the Lutheran churches in Germany, Finland and Sweden.
On Sept. 8, 1996, it played host to the celebration in Tallinn of the signing of the Porvoo Declaration. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey, led the congregation in a celebration that included participants from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. Latvians, Ingrians and German-speaking Lutherans from Russia also took part. The British community in Estonia, supported by the former British Ambassador to Estonia Charles de Chassiron and former Anglican Chaplain the Rev. Francis Chadwick, decided to mark the occasion by repairing, cleaning and restoring the 57 oil panels painted in the 17th century, which adorn the galleries of the church.
These 57 panels, painted by the German artist Elert Thiele, depict events from Old and New Testaments, including the Creation and Passion of Christ and Resurrection. They have survived the Great Northern War of 1701-19, World War I and II and, more surprisingly, the Soviet occupation. Restoration work, carried out by the Soviets, was not successful.
The Headley Trust from Britain, the Hella Valner Trust from Toronto, Canada, together with several individuals have already provided funds to restore about a third of the panels. The cost of restoring each panel is approximately 21,480 kroons ($1,142). Contributions from outside Estonia are also being accepted. To raise such a sum of money from a parish of 1,400 is not a practical proposition when the average monthly salary in Estonia is about 5,500 kroons.
In addition to the panel restoration, the Anglicans, along with their brothers and sisters from other congregations who worship "rent-free" in the church, also support the Tallinn Children's Hospital.
Any contributions to the restoration fund should be sent to EELK Tallinna Puhavaimu Kogudus, Hansapank code 767, account number 1120200255, Kinga Street 2, Tallinn.
On completion of the restoration work, a Service of Rededication and Thanksgiving will take place - in the Spirit of Porvoo.
(Earl of Carlisle is a chairman of the Euro faculty board of Tartu university).
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