Smiltene Evangelical Lutheran Church is the only church in Latvia, built in the shape of a cross (consecrated in 1895) and has been designated a State Cultural Monument.

The first wooden church in Smiltene once stood in the centre of the knight’s castle.

• The Smiltene Congregation Church seal bears the year 1370, which is regarded as the founding year of the congregation.
• 1702. In 1702, the church was burnt down by Russian troops, and its bell was taken to Pskov.
• Reconstruction of the present church building began in 1857. Under the leadership of Mārcis Sārums, the reconstruction became almost a complete rebuild – only a few walls of the old church were preserved and incorporated into the new altar section. The reconstruction project had already been designed in 1850 by the builder Friedrich Hess in Limbaži. The reconstruction was done carefully and properly. The building was completed, and the new church was consecrated on 30 October 1859.
• 2022. In 2022, the most recent renovation was completed, restoring historic wall paintings, pews, and flooring, rebuilding the staircase to the tower, and creating a small exhibition on the history of the Smiltene congregation.
• A pencil inscription written in an early form of Latvian was found on a piece of wood in the altar of Smiltene Church, stating that
  
  “The rebuilding began on 23 April 1857.
  
  It was completed in 1859 by the master builder

  
  Mārcis Sārums, mason Jānis Kampe, and
  
  tower master Jānis Putnis.
  The pulpit and the altar were crafted by the same
  mason.
  
  This text was written by Pēteris Ķallejs,
  an apprentice to Mārcis Sārums”.

• The altar painting “The Resurrection of Christ” by Ernst von Liphart was donated by the then-owner of Smiltene Manor, Mrs Bandava. For unknown reasons, it was restored by J. Rozentāls a few years later.
• he church clock is a gift from the former President of Latvia, Kārlis Ulmanis.
• The congregation has been served by pastors who have been notable figures, serving God and the people.
  • Svante Gustav Dietz, known for his spiritual songs.
  • Jakob Lange, author of the first German-Latvian dictionary.
  • Kārlis Kundziņš, who chronicled his life and service in Smiltene in the book “Mana mūža gājiens” (The Course of My Life).

With prior arrangement, visitors may climb the church tower, view the exhibition, listen to the pastor’s stories about the history of the church, and enjoy a panoramic view of Smiltene’s town centre.