Madise

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Coordinates: 59°17′23″N 24°07′23″E / 59.28972, 24.12306

Harju-Madise church

Madise is a village in Padise parish, Harju county, Estonia. It is the birthplace of Bengt Gottfried Forselius.

[edit] Harju-Madise church

Harju-Madise church is located at high limestone cliff about half kilometers from the seashore.

The first sanctuary on the site was a small wooden construction that was replaced by a stone construction in the 15th century. Because of the unique position on a high shore the church tower was also used as a lighthouse. Only the western portal of the original church has been preserved to date.^[1]

During reconstruction work in 1760-80, the choir, vestry and tower were added to the original building. In middle of nineteenth century the noblemen of Padise and Leetse manors wanted to celebrate the coronation of the new czar, Alexander III, so the tower was built even higher and supported by side pillars.

Inside the church the most outstanding elements are a pulpit carved by Johann Valentin Rabe and a painted shrine donated by the landlord of Põllküla.