Church of Saint John the Baptist in Střížov (Brtnice)

The Church of Saint John the Baptist is a historic parish church standing within the cemetery grounds at the centre of the village of Střížov, part of the town of Brtnice in the Jihlava District, in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. The village lies roughly 4.5 km northeast of Brtnice itself, and the modest stone church has long served as its most recognisable landmark.

What does the church in Střížov look like?

The building combines two building periods in a single structure. Its single-nave body is late Baroque in style, while the polygonally-ended chancel is Gothic and clearly older than the rest of the church. A square, prism-shaped tower rises above the front facade on the nave's axis, visible from a distance above the roofs of the village and the trees surrounding the cemetery.

What is the history of the building?

Based on architectural research of its oldest sections, the church is thought to have been built in the 15th century. Its original Gothic form was substantially altered in the early 19th century, when the nave received the Baroque appearance it retains today. Further repair work followed after 1850, including work carried out in 1882, shaping the building's present condition.

The church's fortunes are closely tied to the history of the local parish. In 1560 the Střížov parish passed into Protestant hands, and it was formally abolished in 1620. Catholic parish life was only re-established around 1785, when Jakub Jenson served as the first priest after its restoration.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Right next to the cemetery grounds where the church stands is a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk dating from 1848. It is a modest but characteristic feature of the village landscape, part of the wider Czech tradition of erecting such statues near churches and bridges.

What is the church's protection status?

The Church of Saint John the Baptist is listed as a kulturní památka — a protected cultural monument of the Czech Republic. The protection covers both the overall structure and its oldest Gothic elements within the chancel.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In the centre of the village of Střížov, within the local cemetery grounds. Střížov is administratively part of the town of Brtnice, in the Jihlava District of the Vysočina Region.

Which parish does the church belong to? It serves as the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Střížov u Jihlavy.

How old is the church? Its oldest surviving parts, including the chancel, are thought to date from the 15th century. The nave gained its current Baroque appearance in the early 19th century.

Is there anything else worth seeing near the church? Yes — a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk from 1848 stands directly beside the cemetery.

Is the church legally protected? Yes, it is listed as a cultural monument (kulturní památka) of the Czech Republic.