Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (Skramníky)

The Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist in Skramníky is a small Neo-Gothic church in the Kolín region of the Czech Republic. It belongs to the Roman Catholic parish of Pečky, within the Kolín vicariate of the Prague archdiocese. Although the church building visible today only dates to the early 20th century, the history of a place of worship on this site stretches back much further, making it a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in the layered religious history of the Czech countryside.

How far back does the church's history go?

The earliest written record of a parish church in Skramníky dates to 1352, when a priest named Tomášek is recorded as serving there. Historians link the origins of the sanctuary to Sázava Monastery, since the village already belonged to its estates in the early medieval period; a shrine founded by monks from that monastery is believed to have stood on the site as early as 1056. A further documented reference to the building comes from 1656, confirming that a place of worship stood continuously on this spot for centuries, despite repeated reconstructions.

Why is the current building relatively young?

Despite its long history, the older church eventually began to show signs of structural failure and was in danger of collapse. In 1906, it was decided to demolish the building entirely. The new church, however, was built following the original layout of its predecessor, preserving the architectural footprint even though the physical structure was replaced. The result is the Neo-Gothic building visible today, typical of many Czech village churches rebuilt around the turn of the 20th century.

What survives from the church's older history?

Even though the structure itself is relatively recent, the interior of the church has retained a Baroque character dating from the 18th century. This suggests that older furnishings and interior elements were preserved and reinstalled during the 1906 reconstruction, creating a notable contrast: a Neo-Gothic exterior wrapped around an interior with a distinctly older, Baroque character.

What is the church's status today?

Since January 1, 2005, the church in Skramníky has functioned as a branch church (filiální kostel), administratively subordinate to the parish in Pečky rather than serving as an independent parish. Its historical significance, however, was formally recognized much earlier: in 1963, the building was entered into the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic, granting it heritage protection status.

Frequently asked questions

Is the church in Skramníky a protected monument? Yes. It has been listed in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic since 1963.

Is it still an independent parish church? No. Since 2005 it has operated as a branch church, administratively part of the Roman Catholic parish of Pečky, within the Kolín vicariate of the Prague archdiocese.

How old is the current church building? The current Neo-Gothic structure dates to the early 20th century. It was built after the older church, which was at risk of collapse, was demolished in 1906 — though the new building preserved the original layout.

Does anything remain from the church's earlier history? Yes — the interior has a Baroque character dating from the 18th century, despite the building itself being much younger.

Where exactly is the church located? In the village of Skramníky, in the Kolín region of the Czech Republic (coordinates: 50.0842 N, 14.9592 E).