The origins of Ilūkste’s Lutheran Church date back to the distant 16th century, a time when Sēlija was predominantly Lutheran.
In 1568, following a decree by the Duke, a Lutheran church was built in Ilūkste, but its existence was short-lived. After the landowner of Pilskalne converted to Catholicism and the last Lutheran pastor in Ilūkste had passed away, Count Jānis Zībergs, a Catholic, transferred the church to the Catholics in 1635, a decision ratified by King Władysław IV of Poland for eternity. Following the confirmation of this donation, the Ilūkste Lutheran congregation was merged with the Lutheran church in Laši. At that time, Jesuits were active in Ilūkste, turning the church into a Mission House, which was later elevated to the status of a residence. Using funds from both nobles and peasants, the Jesuits replaced the small church with a large wooden one and later built a monastery. In 1748, the church and the adjacent wooden monastery were destroyed by fire.
By the 19th century, the number of Lutherans in Ilūkste and its surroundings had grown. Fueled by the resilience of the local people, the Lutheran congregation began to revive. Pastors from Laši held services in a prayer house in Ilūkste. In 1861, the cornerstone was laid for the current Ilūkste Evangelical Lutheran Church, and construction took four long years.
On May 16, 1865, the new church was consecrated, becoming a notable part of the town’s skyline.
The Ilūkste Lutheran Church has suffered many times throughout history. It was destroyed during World War I, but rebuilt in 1928 with funds from the congregation. By 1932, the combined Laši-Ilūkste congregation had 499 members. During the post-war period, the church was confiscated from the congregation, and its activities were halted.
The Ilūkste Lutheran congregation regained ownership of the church in the early 1990s.