Livonian, Armenian, German: The Old Clock Still Ticks

The clock of St. Peter’s Church in Riga was the first public clock in Riga. Along with it, a working bell sounded at certain hours — a sound signal that informed the entire city about the beginning and end of the workday and was an important element of public order.

The restoration of the clock was carried out by one of the leading manufacturers of clock mechanisms in Germany. The new clock mechanism shows the exact time on all four dials of the tower, using the European time signal, which is received by an antenna and transmitted to four separate mechanisms.

The history of the clock of St. Peter’s Church in Riga is closely linked to the fate of the church itself. In 1941, during the war, the clock mechanism along with the church bells was destroyed.

During the Soviet years, a mechanism made at the Armenian Clock Factory was installed in its place, which subsequently faced various technical problems.

Now, a German mechanism has been installed in the tower, combining the best traditions of clock mechanism production and high precision. In the future, it is planned to add bell ringing every hour or half hour to the new clock mechanism; however, additional funds will be required, which are expected to be raised through donations.

The clock mechanism used during the Soviet period is planned to be restored and, after the renovation of the tower premises, will be displayed for public viewing.

St. Peter’s Church is the tallest church in Riga, an outstanding architectural monument of national significance in the Gothic style of the 13th century, as well as the cradle of the Reformation not only in Latvia but throughout Livonia. Until 2022, the church was managed by the Riga City Council. In March 2022, it was returned to its historical owner — the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Foundation and the German Community of St. Peter. Currently, extensive restoration work is being carried out in the church.