ROYAL VISITORS IN LATVIA AND ESTONIA

A tour by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh to Latvia and Estonia in mid-October highlighted two Diocese in Europe churches in the Baltics.

Prince Philip visited St Saviour’s Church in Riga where he unveiled a memorial commemorating more than a hundred British soldiers who died fighting for Latvia’s independence in 1919. The Duke met Latvian soldiers who fought in 21st-century wars in Iraq and Afghanistan alongside their British counterparts. After the plaque was unveiled, the pastor of St. Saviour's Congregation, the Reverend Dr. Juris Calitis, led the participants in prayer. Afterward, the Duke met Church Wardens Betsy Hanselmann and Juris Balodis, church council members, and representatives of the congregation's outreach programs, including the Seniors Day Care Centre and Soup Kitchen.

The red-brick built church dates from the nineteenth century when trade between the two countries was at its height. British ships were regularly seen in Riga’s harbour buying Baltic hemp and other products. If they had no cargo to deliver to Latvia they used British soil as ballast and this was dumped on the banks of the River Daugava and forms the foundation for St Saviour’. The English church regained access to the building in the 1990’s and it is now their spiritual home, in addition to offering a home to the only Scottish-dancing club for many miles.

The royal couple continued their journey in mid-October to include a visit to Tallin where they again commemorated the work of the British naval fleet.