There has been a Lutheran community in Kazan since the 16th century, mainly German immigrants. The construction of the first Lutheran Church began after Catherine the Great’s visit to Kazan in 1767 and was consecrated in 1771 in honour of St Catherine. The current version was built between 1862 and 1865 in the romantic style. During the Soviet years it was closed and used by the NKVD, as a furniture hall and as a sports club, eventually being returned to the Lutheran community in 1996.