Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church – St. Peter’s Church in Kõpu

Kõpu was first mentioned in 1481 and the first wooden church was built in 1674.
The current stone church was built in 1821–1825 and the first organ was brought to the church in 1844.
Around the same time, the unique altarpiece, one of a kind in Estonia, was completed, probably by F. L. von Maydell. In 1866–1867, G. Knauff built a new organ with 8 stops. The organ is still in use.
The stone tower of the church was completed in 1906 and the classistic altar wall, brick floor, and candle holders have survived the years. The walls are decorated by the epitaphs of the landlords von Strykk and parish clerk Auster. Guests can visit the attic hall and tower.
The author of the church textiles is Reet Talimaa.

The church was built in the 1300s and is one of the oldest stone churches in Viljandi County. After the Livonian War, the church was in ruins for a long time. In the Northern War, the church also suffered from fires and was re-built with a wooden ceiling as late as 1767.
At the end of the 19th century, the building was decorated in pseudo-gothic style. The altar wall was built by J. G. Mühlenhausen.
The author of the altar painting (1887) is unknown.
The casing of the organ was built in 1804 by J. A. Stein and it survived the transformation of the organ by the Kriisa brothers in 1937. The wheel-cross by Anne Ratccsep (1598) is also located in the church.
Next to the altar is a marble memorial to General H. H. von Fersen.
 

Tori Church, which was built in 1854, has a complicated past. The German Army burnt the church down in 1944 when retreating from the Red Army. Trees were already growing in the church hall when its restoration began in 1990.

The church was consecrated in 2001 as a memorial to all victims of the Second World War and is now known as the Estonian Soldiers Memorial Church.

The church is well loved by local people and also used as a concert venue. The church also performs several functions as a memorial church – it is the place where Estonian policemen and officers and sworn into office and where historical anniversaries of Estonia are celebrated.

Soomaa Turism MTÜ ühendab Soomaa turismipiirkonnas tegutsevaid ettevõtteid.

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