Contribution of the merchant class to the construction of Orthodox churches in Tomsk in the 18th - early 20th centuries

In the article the participation of the merchant class in the construction of the orthodox churches of Tomsk in the late 18th - 20th centuries is considered. Due to their donations, Tomsk still retains the character of an ancient Russian town. The late 18th - early 20th centuries were the time of active urban construction. Along with official and public buildings, mansions and apartment houses, new churches were erected. Since late 19th century, due to a considerable migration of peasantry from the southern and European regions of Russia to Siberia, rural churches were actively built. In pre-revolutionary Russia the building of churches was partially or completely conducted at the State expense and by private benefactions. Rural churches were usually built by the community. The local merchant class made an important contribution to the building of churches. The mentality of Russian merchants, despite their urban surroundings, preserved many traits of the traditional society. Therefore, partaking in the building and decoration of churches remained the main kind of benefaction, which was motivated both religiously and socially. The partaking of individuals in the construction of churches consisted in funding and in the following embellishment of the church: creating the interior and practicing ben efactions (icons, books, vestments). Merchants also often became churchwardens. Merchant Pyotr Mikhailov, who was churchwarden for the Epiphany Church, renovated its side altar of Elias the Prophet and built the side altar of Archangel Michael. Merchant Akim Pilyasov was churchwarden for the Resurrection Church and contributed a lot for its embellishment. Father and son Aleksey and Ivan Erenev built the Assumption Church of the nunnery of John the Baptist. Merchant Symeon Valgusov rebuilt the church in the village of Zorkaltsevo and restored the church near the Basandaika River in 1889. In 1908, the firm “Evgraf Kukhterin and Sons” built the Church of Sts Peter and Paul. Many other merchants took part in the construction and improving of local churches. Among them were Nikolay Baturin, Aleksey Verkhoturov, Ivan Zakharyev. Tomsk merchants also took part in building and redecoration of churches for the rural communities. Merchant Ivan Vilyanov built the Trinity Church in the village of Kargalinskoye in 1882. Merchant А. Karnakov built the Archangel Church in the village of Nelyubino. Reports about the construction and decoration of churches in the late 19th - early 20th centuries often appeared in the local press.

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