Location Bordighera, Italy Architectural type Church Architectural style Gothic architecture | Status Active Province Province of Imperia Year consecrated 1904 | |
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Address Via Vitorio Veneto, ., 18012 Bordighera IM, Italy Affiliation Waldensian Evangelical Church Similar Villa Etelinda, Villa Garnier, Anglican Church, Bicknell Museum, Istituto Internazionale di Studi Li | ||
The 'Waldensian Evangelical Church' is a religious building in Via Vittorio Veneto in Bordighera on the Riviera, province of Imperia.
History and Description
In the nineteenth and twentieth century, Bordighera was visited by many British citizens, then followed by guests of other nationalities including Germans. Among the most famous guests were Empress Victoria, wife of Frederick III, German Emperor, who stayed at the Hotel Angst, Baron Friederich von Kleudgen that will eventually settle in the famous Villa Banana which he built, Baron Raphaël Bischoffsheim, the painter Hermann Nestel and the botanist Ludwig Winter.
The British Anglican faith had built their church in 1873 while Protestants continued to be devoid of a temple where to celebrate mass. So it was that Baron Moritz von Bernus decided to organize a fundraiser to build a place of worship suitable to welcome Protestants who resided in Bordighera. In 1901 the Baron, with the help of an association of Frankfurt, purchased land in via Bischoffsheim, now Via Vittorio Veneto, to build an Evangelical church, which was inaugurated on March 20, 1904. The church was built by Rudolph Winter, third son of the famous botanist of German origin Ludwig Winter.
The intent of the founders was not that of a building reserved for the German Lutheran religion, but open to any religious worship. It was therefore made available to several believers of all nationalities and religions.
In 1941, the Waldensian Evangelical Church became the owner of the building, and faithful to its initial use continues with its ecumenical policy. Today the temple is also sometimes used for conferences and concerts organized in collaboration with the city of Bordighera.