The origin of the Protestant Church in Lithuania, whose three traditional strongholds still exist in Biržai, Kėdainiai and Vilnius, dates back to John Calvin’s lifetime in 1557, although this particular church, considered one of the finest examples of Neo-Classical architecture in the country, was built considerably later between 1830 and 1835. The work of one of the best local Neo-Classical architects of his day Karolis Podčašinskis (Pol. Karol Podczaszyński, 1790-1860), the church was closed by the Soviets in 1953, eventually becoming a cinema, a fact the church now betrays courtesy of the cinema seats still in use.