Since the 16th century a number of Calvinist congregations had been established along the routes used by English, Dutch, French, and Swiss carrying on business between Copenhagen and Latvia. Today the denomination consists of a single Ref church, which was built by German traders in 1733. Up to World War II the church was predominantly of German origin. In 1938 there were still about 1,000 members, including those living in Mitau and a group of Lithuanians. When in 1939 the Germanrepatriation took place, the majority of the congregation left Latvia. The church buildings were handed over to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. After World War II, on December 10, 1949, the Ref congregation was joined by the Evangelical Church of the Brethren and the Evangelical Bethlehem Community. A new community, the Evangelical Reformed–Brethren community, was formed. Funding for church repairs was unavailable. In 1964 the state took over the building and transformed it into a sound studio. The building was returned to the church in December 1993 and rededicated on May 15, 1994. Since 1996 an ordained minister from Toronto has been serving this church.
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