Vidsmuiža Catholic church of St.Spirit

The first church in Galēni was built of wood in 1743. The construction of the church was fully funded by landlord Borhs. The church existed for over 160 years and was 245 square meters in size. The new, boulder-built church was allowed to be built only in the place of the old, wooden church. That is why it was pulled down, moved over the road and restored. During the construction work of the new church, the old wooden church was used for church services. The church didn't have a tower by then, and only had a cross on top of it. After the new church was built, the old church served as a space for shop, a hall for choir repetitions and as an exhibition hall. After the World War II the church served as a space for shop and it was destroyed in fire in 1945. The new boulder-built church was built by dean Staņislavs Žvegzda. It was built in two years - from 1919 till 1912. There are stories, that well before this church in Galēni there was a small chapel that was located in the right side of presbytery garden, but there is no evidence to prove that. Galēni was a mission place for Jesuits who used to hold their church serices there. It is approved by the fact, that in 1715 a Galēni farmer used to walk to Preiļi to visit a missionaire - a Jesuit, to find spiritual consolation. In old times, Galēni congregation consisted of residents of three manors: Galēni, Polkorone and Aleksandropole manors. The landlord was very strict during the construction of the new church. He would ask for payment even for the water and gravel, that was used for the building. That is why the farmers took water from a spring and were getting gravel from afar. The construction was funded by the congregation. To build it faster, the floor is without a single elevation. And also because gravel was extremely expensive to buy from the local landlord. The construction of towers was also put in halt and has not been finished as planned. The dean gave a good wage for the workers, that is why some members of the congregation also took on the jobs at the construction site. After the building of the church, the dean Žvegzda went to Lietuva. The new church, just like the old one, was consecrated in honor of St.Spirit. In 1914 the Galēni new church was consecrated by metropolite V.Kļučinskis. In this celebration, the dean Žvergzda couldn't attend "as a persona non-grata in front of the metropolite", although he was in Galēni at the time.

The church was built of split boulders with two towers of red brick. The zinc tin roof has a tiny tower above sacristy. The floor is made of concrete tiles, but the ceiling - from wood, in the arc arch they were plastered. Their weight balances on stone pillars, that split the church in three "navas". The church has three altars, the largest one is in two storeys - upper and lower. There are the following paintings: the coming of St.Spirit above the apostles, St.Jānis and St.Bērtulis. The right side altar holds a painting of Aglona Virgin Mary. On the other side altar there are St.Juris and St.Kazimirs paintings. All altars are made of wood. The Abmon is also created of wood. There are sacristies on both sides of presbytery. On the left side there is an entrance in the sacristy from the outside, and it works as a storage place. The other sacristy holds lithurgical clothing and dishes. They all were bought during the time of dean B.Grišāns. After the death of dean P.Bruža, due to conflict of the congregation, the previous items were gone. Presbytery is divided from the church by a wooden Holy Communion. There are spacious rooms for choir and organ. The window frames are made of iron. The church still has items from the old church : paintings, chandelier, procession cross, that was donated by Monika Apeinis in 1907. In 1920 the bishop A. Springovičs chose Galēni as his summer residence. Here in August 29, 1920 he consecrated the first dean in his life - Antons Oļševskis. In the congregation cemetery dean A.Punculis (in the war cemetery) and P.Bružas are buried. Both have memorials. In Malta-Trūpi cemetery there is a wooden chapel. It is built rather recently and is very simple: around a cemetery cross there are 6 posts, that have been covered with paneling, above which is a roof made of shavings. In other cemeteries there are no chapels. 

Around the presbytery church garden, in the left corner is installed a tower bell on top of a stone postament. It has been left from the times of the old church. There are 4 copper bells in the tower. One is 6 poods, other is 3 poods and the two remaing ones are half pood in weight.

The biggest events are Pentecost (40 hours), St. John the Christener and St.Bērtulis days. In 1899 there were 2335 men and 2328 women in the congregation. In 1939 happened a canonic visitation of bishop J.Rancāns. A sermon was said by S.Vaikuļs. Importantly, right after the arrival of the bishop, during the rain at night the foundation of the honorary gate were eroded and they fell down. Soon after that, dean P.Bružas died (from 1859 til 1863 the dean was S.Lupeiko and the vicar -  Antons Bortkevičs)