Alfred Tooming

Alfred Tooming (5 July 1907 – 5 October 1977) was an Estonian prelate who served as the Archbishop of Tallinn and Primate of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church between 1967 and 1977.

The Most Reverend

Alfred Tooming
Archbishop of Tallinn
Primate of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
ChurchEstonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
ArchdioceseTallinn
Elected12 October 1967
In office1967–1977
PredecessorJaan Kiivit Sr.
SuccessorEdgar Hark
Orders
Ordination2 September 1934
Consecration9 June 1968
by Martti Simojoki
Personal details
Born(1907-07-05)5 July 1907
Died5 October 1977(1977-10-05) (aged 70)
Tallinn, Estonia
NationalityEstonian
DenominationLutheran
ParentsTõnu Tooming & Miina Roop
SpouseSenta Kikerpill
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Tartu

He was born on Idu farm in Ülejõe, Anija Parish, Governorate of Estonia in the Russian Empire, the son of Tõnu Tooming and Miina Roop. He studied at Kehra Municipal School between 1916 and 1919 and in 1927 graduated from the Jakob Westholm Gymnasium. From 1927 to 1932 he studied at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Tartu. He was ordained priest in St. Mary's Cathedral, Tallinn on 2 September 1934.

In 1934 he served as vicar of the St. James' Church in Võnnu and then deputy vicar of the parish in Käina. In 1935 he became vicar of the Church of St. John the Baptist, also known as Harju-Jaani church in Raasiku. Between 1941 and 1945 he was mobilised by the Red Army. he returned to his post in Raasiku in 1945. Between 1946 and 1959 he served in Jõelähtme's Church while in 1949 he transferred to Viljandi to become vicar of St. Paul's Church and Provost of the Viljandi deanery.[1]

On 12 October 1967, after the resignation of Jaan Kiivit Sr., he was elected Archbishop of the Estonian church, and was consecrated on 9 June 1968 in St. Mary's Cathedral. He was consecrated by Martti Simojoki, Archbishop of Turku and Finland and co-consecrated by Aarre Lauha, Bishop of Helsinki.[2]

Family

On 25 May 1935, Tooming married Senta Kikerpill and together had four children, of whom their daughter, Maare Kümnik (1936–2015), was a notable Estonian bibliographer. Tooming's grandson is Ants Tooming, who since 2015 has been Provost of Tartu.

References

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