Fires and mutual insurance “against fire” of church buildings in the Totem Uyezd of the Vologda Province in 1910–1917

The paper, based on archival documents, analyzes the organization of fire insurance for church real estate in the Totem Uyezd of the Vologda province. The preparatory stage of insurance (assessment of buildings and assignment of insurance premiums) in 1910 and the implementation of the process during 1911-1917 are considered. The Ecclesiastical Department established a system of mutual insurance of real estate, in which the Insurance Department accumulated, checked and approved documents for the insurance of buildings. At the diocesan level, the main activity in the insurance business was concentrated in the hands of the deans; the role of the Vologda Ecclesiastical Consistory was reduced to the transfer of documents and funds. In the Totem Uyezd, approximately 77% of insurance premiums were spent on fire damage compensation, which was 27% higher than the average for the Russian Empire. Comparing the costs of insurance and payments for damage from fires in church buildings, the author comes to the conclusion that insurance based on the principles of reciprocity, which made it possible to compensate for losses “from fire,” turned out to be quite appropriate in the Totem Uyezd.