In the late 19th century, construction began in the hilly part of the settlement, new streets appeared, and in 1897 a new cemetery was opened. In 1901, a church was started next to the cemetery. Funds for the construction came from the local bourgeoisie and Nizhny Novgorod merchants, while the city administration allocated 1000 rubles. On July 27, 1902, Bishop Nazarius of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas consecrated the new church in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The church operated until 1939. During World War II, it was closed and stood boarded up for a long time. In 1975, the building was demolished. In 2006, a new chapel was built on the site of the old church, modeled after the previous church. The foundation of the old church, made of brick, turned out to be strong and became the basis for the new chapel. A small chapel also existed in the market square of Vasilsursk.