Evangelical church

The Evangelical church in Chleby, known locally as Chrám pokoje (the Church of Peace), is a modest but historically notable Protestant church standing in the northwestern part of the village of Chleby, in the Nymburk district of Central Bohemia, on the road toward Oskořínek. It belongs to the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren and remains an active place of worship for the local congregation.

How old is the congregation in Chleby?

The Evangelical congregation in Chleby was reestablished in 1783, only two years after Emperor Joseph II issued the Patent of Toleration, which for the first time since the Counter-Reformation allowed non-Catholics in the Habsburg lands to practice their faith openly. The first church building went up in 1786. In keeping with the legal restrictions placed on "tolerated" places of worship at the time, it had no tower - non-Catholic churches were not permitted to resemble sacred buildings from the outside or to have a bell tower facing the street.

Why does the church look the way it does today?

The original late-18th-century building was eventually replaced by a new church in the Romanesque Revival style. It was designed and built by E. Prukner, an architect and builder from Nymburk, and was consecrated on 6 July 1888. This is the building, now equipped with a tower, that still stands in Chleby.

What does the building look like?

The church is a single-nave structure and, unlike a traditional Catholic church, it is non-oriented - meaning its chancel does not face east. It was built on a rectangular floor plan, with a rectangular presbytery attached on the northwestern side. A slender, prism-shaped tower rises above the entrance façade, topped not with a cross but with a star - a detail typical of the Calvinist (Reformed) tradition the building draws on.

What else can be found around the church?

An Evangelical cemetery was laid out around the church for use by the local congregation. In 1938, half a century after the new church was consecrated, a parsonage was added, where the pastor serving the parish still resides.

Can visitors attend a service today?

Yes - regular Sunday services are held in the Chleby church, traditionally starting at 8:30 a.m. It remains a living place of worship rather than just an architectural monument.

Frequently asked questions

Which denomination does the Chleby church belong to? It belongs to the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, the main Protestant denomination in the Czech Republic, rooted in the Reformed and Hussite traditions.

Is this the first church built on the site? No. A simpler building without a tower was built in 1786. The current Romanesque Revival church with its tower was built and consecrated in 1888.

Why does the tower have a star instead of a cross? It reflects the Calvinist (Reformed) tradition of the congregation - a star in place of a cross is a characteristic feature of churches in this tradition.

Is there a cemetery next to the church? Yes, an Evangelical cemetery surrounding the church is tied to the history of the local congregation.