Church of Saints Simon and Jude

The Church of Saints Simon and Jude stands in Starý Rokytník, a village that forms part of the town of Trutnov, roughly 3.5 km southeast of the town centre in northeastern Czechia. It is a small Baroque Roman Catholic church — today a filial church, formerly a parish church — listed as a cultural monument and belonging to the Trutnov I deanery.

What is the history behind the church?

Records first mention a church on this site as early as 1384, when a Gothic building stood here. That original structure did not survive: it was destroyed in 1430, during the Hussite Wars that swept through much of the Czech-Silesian border region and left many local churches in ruins. The site remained without a proper church for over three centuries, until a new building was raised in Baroque style in 1752. From that point, the church functioned as a filial church under the Jesuit order based in nearby Žireč, who administered pastoral care for the surrounding parishes at the time.

The rebuilt church served the local community continuously for more than two centuries. Regular services continued until the early 1970s, with the last scheduled mass held in 1974, after which the building gradually lost its active liturgical role.

What makes the architecture of the church distinctive?

The building is a simple, single-nave Baroque structure, closed at the presbytery end by a rectangular chancel. A sacristy adjoins the presbytery on its north side, while a slender, prism-shaped tower rises directly above the presbytery's axis — a feature that makes the church stand out in the landscape of Starý Rokytník from a distance.

Two architectural details set it apart from most rural Baroque churches in the region. First, the main altar does not face east, as was customary in Christian church design, but faces west instead — an unusual departure that draws the attention of visitors interested in sacred architecture. Second, the interior is covered by a wooden ceiling suspended directly from the roof truss rather than resting on the walls in the way typical for churches of the period — a structurally unusual solution for a Baroque village church.

Who looks after the church today?

After years without a regular liturgical function, the church's future passed into local hands. In September 2020, under a donation agreement with the Trutnov deanery, the civic association Přátelé Starého Rokytníku (Friends of Starý Rokytník) became the owner of both the church and its adjoining cemetery. Since then, the building has remained in the care of the local community, which works to preserve it as a piece of the village's history.

Where is the church and how can visitors see it?

The church stands within Starý Rokytník, a district of Trutnov, in a prominent spot in the village, enclosed by a low wall and bordered by its cemetery. It makes for a worthwhile stop on a short walk or bike ride for anyone visiting Trutnov and the surrounding foothills on the Czech side of the border who has an interest in local sacred architecture and village history.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of Saints Simon and Jude? The site is first documented in 1384, but the current Baroque building dates from 1752, built after the original Gothic church was destroyed in 1430.

Are services still held at the church today? Regular masses ended in the early 1970s, with the last one recorded in 1974. The building no longer functions as an active parish church.

Who owns the church now? Since September 2020, the church and its cemetery have belonged to the association Přátelé Starého Rokytníku, following a donation agreement with the Trutnov I deanery.

What is architecturally unusual about this church? Its main altar faces west instead of the customary east, and its wooden ceiling is suspended from the roof truss rather than supported by the walls.