Church of the Resurrection

The Hussite Church in Broumov (Czech: Kostel Zmrtvýchvstání, "Church of the Resurrection") is an Art Nouveau church with a tower, built in 1903 in the Velká Ves district on the outskirts of Broumov, in the Hradec Králové Region near the Czech-Polish border. Today it serves the congregation of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the Orthodox Church, standing in an extensive park away from the bustle of the old town.

Where did this church come from?

The story begins in 1893, when a German preaching station was founded in Broumov as part of the "Los von Rom" ("Away from Rome") movement — a wave of Protestant secession among German-speaking communities of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy who opposed the dominance of the Catholic Church. In 1903, a masonry church was built for this congregation, and by 1905 it had grown into an independent Evangelical parish. A parsonage was added next to the church in 1909.

What architectural style is the building?

The church was built in Art Nouveau (Secession) style combined with neo-Renaissance elements — a pairing typical of German Evangelical churches erected around the turn of the 20th century on the territory of today's Czech Republic. Its most recognizable feature is a four-sided tower, visible above the treetops of the surrounding park. Inside the main nave, a stained-glass window depicting the resurrected Christ survives — the motif that gave the church its name.

What happened to the church after World War II?

After 1945, when the German-speaking population was expelled from the border regions, the German Evangelical Church in Czechoslovakia ceased to exist, and the building passed to the Czechoslovak Hussite Church. For a time, under pastor Bohumil Potměšil (who served from 1943 to 1969), both Evangelical and Hussite services were held in the church. Around the year 2000, the entire church-and-parsonage complex underwent a complete reconstruction.

Who uses the church today?

The building is now administered by Diakonie Broumov, a social cooperative affiliated with the Hussite parish. Regular services of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church are held here, and the Orthodox Church also celebrates its liturgy in the same space. Sunday services begin at 10:00, led by pastor Jana Wienerová and administering pastor Stanislav Švarc. The complex also includes a columbarium, open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (5 p.m. in summer), and a prayer chapel where individual pastoral counseling is available by appointment.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands in Velká Ves, a historic part of Broumov in the Hradec Králové Region, set in a large park surrounding the former parsonage. It's a quiet spot, away from the old town's main landmarks such as the Benedictine monastery or the Church of Saint Wenceslas, making it a good stop for a walk that combines sightseeing with time among greenery.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Hussite church in Broumov built? The church was built in 1903 for a German Evangelical congregation, and a parsonage was added in 1909.

Why is it called a Hussite church if it was originally Evangelical? After 1945, when the German Evangelical Church ceased operating in the region, the building was taken over by the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, which still uses it today.

What architectural style was it built in? Art Nouveau (Secession) combined with neo-Renaissance elements, with a distinctive four-sided tower.

Can visitors see the inside of the church? Sunday services take place at 10:00; the complex also includes a publicly accessible columbarium and a prayer chapel available by appointment.