Church of Saint Wenceslaus

Church of Saint Wenceslaus in Kozojedy is a small wooden church in the Jičín district, one of the more distinctive examples of vernacular sacred architecture in eastern Bohemia. The building belongs to the Diocese of Hradec Králové, the Jičín vicariate, and forms part of the Roman Catholic parish - deanery of Kopidlno.

How old is the church in Kozojedy?

The first written mentions of a church on this site date back to 1368, though the current wooden structure is considerably younger - it was built in 1689. The church was renovated in 1718, and its walls were plastered in 1803. A more substantial reconstruction followed in 1913, initiated by the Museum Association in Nový Bydžov. In 1964 the building was listed as a Czech cultural heritage monument.

What does the church look like architecturally?

It is an oriented, single-nave wooden building on a rectangular floor plan, closed on three sides at the chancel end. Inside, a music gallery rests on ten wooden columns. The roof is a steep, hipped shingle roof topped with a characteristic ridge turret with a pyramidal cap. This construction is typical of wooden sacred architecture in the region and gives the modestly sized building a light, upward-reaching silhouette.

What is worth seeing inside?

Set into the wall of the church is the tombstone of Václav Stráňovský, dated 1568 - the oldest surviving element of the interior, pointing to a history of the site considerably older than the present building itself. It is an unusual example of an epitaph built directly into the church's masonry, of interest to anyone drawn to local history and sepulchral art.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands in the village of Kozojedy, in the Jičín district, at coordinates 50.314784, 15.371721. Kozojedy is a small village in eastern Bohemia, and the church itself functions as a filial (subsidiary) church.

Frequently asked questions

When was the current church in Kozojedy built? The present wooden structure dates from 1689, although the first mentions of a church on this site go back to 1368.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it was listed as a Czech cultural heritage monument in 1964.

What architectural style does the building represent? It is an example of wooden sacred architecture - a single-nave structure on a rectangular plan with a three-sided chancel, a shingle roof, and a ridge turret.

What survives from the oldest furnishings? The wall of the church contains the tombstone of Václav Stráňovský, dated 1568.

Which diocese does the church belong to? It belongs to the Diocese of Hradec Králové, the Jičín vicariate, within the Roman Catholic parish - deanery of Kopidlno.