Land Scandal for Historical Baptist Church in St. Petersburg

The Church on 24th Lane has a long and well-documented history. In 1910, the Baptist community bought a plot of 717 square fathoms (about 3,300 sq. meters) for a large sum at the time, 42,000 Rubles. Due to legislative restrictions during the Russian Empire, it was necessary to coordinate this deal at the highest level - evidence of this deal approved by Czar Nicholas II, was found in the archives. Very quickly after this, the house of worship was built, with a walkway, a fence and gates.

In the Soviet years, the church was closed and transferred to the neighboring property of an Electro-appliance factory and became their recreation center. The building was well maintained and up until recent years, had been well preserved.

The issue of transferring the church to historical owners was first raised in the early 1990s. Then in October of 1993, city officials transferred the ownership from the Elektro-appliance company to the local Baptist congregation for unlimited use. They also talked about restructuring the factory’s entrance, to allow the church unhindered access to the building.

However, that transfer concerned only the building, and not the land. And because of that, the situation just became more complicated. Only in 2013, was the land which the church is located on, became transferred to the Baptists. To make matters worse, because the wording said, “on the foundation”, which is now under dispute, it does not include all the original land originally purchased in 1910. Half of the land and the way to the building remained as the Electro-appliance company owners and this has given rise to a legal conflict between the company and Baptists.

Much worse than the concerts and meetings of the factory’s staff under the USSR, the recent adversities have physically affected the church. Now, judging by the photographs from the inside, the building is heavily littered, along with the safety of load-bearing structures. Some of the beams made 110 years ago are critically damaged, mostly because of a new metro line underneath the structure. In 2018, the Metro builders proposed to strengthen the foundation of the historic house of worship at their own expense, but it never happened. The Transport Construction Directorate states that representatives of factory did not coordinate this construction project with the Metro builders, and so it never was took place.

The factory has its own position regarding the church, stating that it, “is located at a hazardous production facility that fulfills state defense orders, in an area with a strict access requirements,” yet apparently not really that strict as obvious vandalism has occured. From the street you can see that glass is broken in the building, and from interior photographs, it is clear that everything is turned upside down and ruined, which is extremely far from what one would have expected on a “sensitive and secure” facility.

The restrictions for the Baptists to have access to their church are explained that it would violate “industrial safety requirements, commercial and other secrets." “Hazardous production facilities are located on the territory ..., and work is being done for the needs of companies with government participation, including the production of military products,” the electric appliance factory explains.

It is not clear what secret defense orders the factory is involved in. Judging by open data records, they make purely normal products. It is possible that they receive some contracts from military-related companies. However, sources say, they could not find signs that the plant had access to state secrets. Yet another building in the factory territory has been turned into a business center!

Attempts to clarify the situation directly with the management of the Electric Appliance Factory were not reciprocated and all communication was ignored. The Baptists were offered 15 million rubles ($215,000) by the factory to abandon the site and build a new one somewhere else. The alternative sites proposed by the city were extremely unequal. Plus the building/property is actually valued at 33 million Rubles ($480,000).

In addition, the historic church is an important place for Baptists in terms of emotion. In our faith, there is no sacred attitude towards a building. More important is the memory of people who were there and suffered martyrdom for their faith. The restoration of the church is estimated at least 200 million rubles, which is just materials.

Baptist's recent request to access their house of worship was denied citing anti-epidemic measures. Victor Sipko, the regional UECB pastor, says he visited the church building two years ago, and it was evident then that it’s condition was deteriorating due to a leaking roof. The foundation, electricity, plumbing will all have to be redone. That is, most likely, the final price of restoration of the church will increase significantly.

When the Church was built in 1910, they raised funds around the world. So it is now. We will not have problems with recovery. We are part of a World Baptist Alliance, which also includes our Russian UECB churches and the Lord will work through us all.