Svatý Filip a Jakub

The Church of St. Philip and St. James stands in the centre of the village of Mlékosrby, in the Hradec Králové region of eastern Bohemia. It is a modest building with an unusually layered history, serving both as the village's parish church and as the burial crypt of the noble Kinský family.

How old is the church?

The first written record of a church on this site dates back to 1528, showing that a place of worship existed here long before the current structure was built. The Baroque building visitors see today was constructed in 1709, part of a broader wave of village church construction commissioned by the Kinský family across their estates between 1703 and 1720. The Mlékosrby church is one of the results of that building campaign.

What can you see inside?

The interior is dominated by Baroque furnishings dating mostly from the first half of the 18th century, in keeping with the period when the church itself was built. One of the more distinctive features is its musical heritage: the original organ, built in 1792 by the Prague organ maker Pavel František Horák, was replaced in 1894 by a new instrument made by Josef Vanický. The organ heard in the church today dates from that later, 1894 rebuild.

Three bells hang in the church tower. The oldest of them is a historic object in its own right — cast in 1474 by the Prague master bell-founder Hanuš, making it older than the Baroque building itself by well over two centuries.

Why is there a family crypt here?

In 1818, a crypt for the Kinský family — the church's founders and patrons — was added to the building's southern side. It was here that Leopold Josef Kinský (1764–1831), a member of the Chlumec branch of the family, was buried in 1831. The presence of this aristocratic crypt gives the church an additional, memorial dimension: it is not only a place of worship for the local community but also a mausoleum tied to one of the notable Bohemian noble families.

How has the building's appearance changed over time?

Another turning point in the church's history came in 1882, when it underwent a substantial Neo-Romanesque reconstruction. It was during this rebuilding that the tower was added, giving the church the silhouette it retains today. The combination of a Baroque nave with a Neo-Romanesque tower and later furnishings makes the building an interesting record of several architectural periods layered over nearly four centuries.

Who should visit Mlékosrby?

The church in Mlékosrby will appeal to visitors interested in the sacred architecture of provincial Bohemia and the history of its landed nobility. It is not a major national attraction, but for those drawn to Baroque churches, the Kinský family's history, or simply a quiet detour through the East Bohemian countryside, it makes for an interesting stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the current church building built? The present Baroque structure dates from 1709, although the first written mention of a church on this site goes back to 1528.

Whose crypt is inside the church? The church houses the crypt of the Kinský family, added in 1818 on the southern side. Leopold Josef Kinský (d. 1831) is among those buried there.

How old is the oldest bell? The oldest of the church's three bells dates from 1474 and was cast by the Prague master bell-founder Hanuš.

What changed in 1882? The church underwent a Neo-Romanesque reconstruction that added the tower giving the building its current appearance.