The Churches of Peace
at Jawor and Swidnica
Over the years, we have used lots of methods of transportation to get around during our travels.
Since we knew we had to make the leap from Prague, Czech Republic to Wroclaw (pronounced Vrat-Swaf), Poland and we wanted to to stop at The Churches of Peace along the way, we opted to hire a car and driver from the online service MYDAYTRIP.COM.
We hadn’t used this service before, so we were pleased to find the driver promptly waiting in front of our hotel when it was time to leave.
Since we knew we had to make the leap from Prague, Czech Republic to Wroclaw (pronounced Vrat-Swaf), Poland and we wanted to to stop at The Churches of Peace along the way, we opted to hire a car and driver from the online service MYDAYTRIP.COM.
We hadn’t used this service before, so we were pleased to find the driver promptly waiting in front of our hotel when it was time to leave.
Our driver was pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. The drive from Prague to Wroclaw is approximately 325km, and takes about 3 hours with no stops. We felt safe, comfortable and relaxed as he drove which is one of nice things about having a driver.
Though we have driven in Europe for years, it is sometimes a somewhat stressful experience! Instead of tensely watching for exits and speed signs, we leisurely took in the scenery rolling by and chatted with our driver who was able to answer our endless questions about living in Poland and Central Europe.
Though we have driven in Europe for years, it is sometimes a somewhat stressful experience! Instead of tensely watching for exits and speed signs, we leisurely took in the scenery rolling by and chatted with our driver who was able to answer our endless questions about living in Poland and Central Europe.
We had pre-booked two site-seeing stops during the trip to see the Churches of Peace. The Churches of Peace in the towns of Jawor and Świdnica in Silesia Poland were named after the Peace of Westphalia of 1648.
Jawor Swidnica
What is called the European Wars of Religion (also called The Thirty Years War) were a series of religious wars waged in Europe in the 16th, 17th and early 18th century. The wars were fought after the Protestant Reformation’s beginning in 1517. However, religion was not the only cause of the wars, which also included revolts, territorial ambitions, and Great Power conflicts.
Before the war, townsfolk were free to follow Luther’s ideas and Lutheran services were held in the towns. When the war broke out, the Protestants were deprived of the right to have their own faith and their own churches.
The treaties of Westphalia brought to an end a calamitous period of European history which caused the deaths of approximately eight million people
Under the Peace of Westphalia, the Catholic emperor Ferdinand III of Habsburg was obliged by the Swedish government to allow the Protestants in the hereditary duchies of Jawor, Głogów, and Świdnica to once again openly practice their faith and to build one so-called "Church of Peace" in each duchy.
Before the war, townsfolk were free to follow Luther’s ideas and Lutheran services were held in the towns. When the war broke out, the Protestants were deprived of the right to have their own faith and their own churches.
The treaties of Westphalia brought to an end a calamitous period of European history which caused the deaths of approximately eight million people
Under the Peace of Westphalia, the Catholic emperor Ferdinand III of Habsburg was obliged by the Swedish government to allow the Protestants in the hereditary duchies of Jawor, Głogów, and Świdnica to once again openly practice their faith and to build one so-called "Church of Peace" in each duchy.
The peace agreement permitted the Lutherans in the Roman Catholic parts of Silesia to build churches that were required to be from wood, loam and straw outside the city walls. No durable stone structure was allowed and the churches had to be built without steeples and church bells making their use as a Protestant Church invisible. The construction time was limited to one year.
Despite the physical and political constraints pressed upon the builders, three of the churches became the biggest timber-framed religious buildings in Europe due to pioneering constructional and architectural solutions.
Despite the physical and political constraints pressed upon the builders, three of the churches became the biggest timber-framed religious buildings in Europe due to pioneering constructional and architectural solutions.
Since 2001, the two remaining churches are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Jawor - Church of Peace
The church in Jawor is dedicated to the Holy Ghost and has capacity of 5,500. It was constructed by architect Albrecht von Saebisch (1610–1688) who was from Wroclaw (then German Breslau) and was finished in 1655 using half-timbered construction method. The Bell Tower on the southern side was an addition erected in 1707.
At the time these churches were built, the Churches of Peace were the only Lutheran churches in the region artistically dominated by the Counter Reformation. The favored style used in the churches was the Austrian version of Roman Baroque popular in Silesia.
Protestant interiors were usually simple and restrained so as to avoid distraction and create a contemplative mood. In Jawor and Swidnica however, the ornate Baroque style influenced both churches, though more toned down in Jawor. This unique sculptural and painted decor was used to convey Protestant theology.
Protestant interiors were usually simple and restrained so as to avoid distraction and create a contemplative mood. In Jawor and Swidnica however, the ornate Baroque style influenced both churches, though more toned down in Jawor. This unique sculptural and painted decor was used to convey Protestant theology.
The galleries are divided by openwork screens and partition walls into a complex system of interconnected loges for the members of local nobility and balconies for craft guilds.
Particularly richly decorated are the canopied loges of the von Hochberg and von Schweinitz families projecting before the galleries. They flank the high altar and are supported by pillars as they overhang the main floor.
The high altar, by Martin Schneider of Kamienna Gora, dates to 1672. It is decorated by the figures of Moses and John the Baptist along with three figures of angels.
The paintings of over 140 biblical scenes inside by were done by Georg Flegel in 1671–1681. The décor is supplemented by cartouches bearing coats of arms of local noble families and guilds.
The Hexagonal pulpit is by Mattias Knothe of Legnica. The parapet is decorated with sculptures of Moses, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John the Evangelist
The original organ from 1664 was replaced in 1855–1856 by Adolf Alexander Lummert.
The wooden carved railings, supports and decorative ornamental painting add a whimsical Alpine look to the church.
The park across from the church is a peaceful place to take a little time to yourself.
Świdnica - Church of Peace
The Church of the Holy Trinity in Świdnica, which is the more elaborate of the two existing Churches of Peace, was built in 1656–1657 as a three-aisled basilica with a Greek cross ground plan.
Photo above via Flicker.com
The Protestants of Swidnica displayed extraordinary resourcefulness in order to build their church in one year. Even the poorest of the community brought something to the table, if only one wooden board. All social classes were involved in the construction process; the nobility, the burghers and the peasants.
One inhabitant of Świdnica, Christian Czepko, even set out on a journey to European Protestant courts to ask for money for the construction. The hard work paid off, as construction was completed on time and in 1657 the first service was held in the Church of Peace in Świdnica.
One inhabitant of Świdnica, Christian Czepko, even set out on a journey to European Protestant courts to ask for money for the construction. The hard work paid off, as construction was completed on time and in 1657 the first service was held in the Church of Peace in Świdnica.
Photo above by Um.swidnica.pl
The paintings on the ceiling show the Holy Trinity, the Last Judgement, the Heavenly Jerusalem and the Fall of Babylon.
The church can accommodate 7500 people. The exquisite 18th century wooden altar dominates the Baroque interior. The relief above the altar stone shows the Last Supper.
Above the relief stand sculpted figures of Moses, arch-priest Aaron, Jesus, John the Baptist and the apostles Peter and Paul. The central scene between the figures shows the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan. The altar is surmounted by a book with seven seals, a lamb and a banner.
The other dominating element is the 18th century pulpit. The body of the pulpit is supported by Faith with a cross, Hope with an anchor and Love with a child. The pulpit is crowned by the figure of an angel with a trumpet announcing the Last Judgement.
The stairs leading to the pulpit are decorated with reliefs showing the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Golgotha, and the Paradise. The hourglass on the lectern was divided into four half-hour parts that measured the length of the sermon.
The stairs leading to the pulpit are decorated with reliefs showing the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Golgotha, and the Paradise. The hourglass on the lectern was divided into four half-hour parts that measured the length of the sermon.
17th century pipe organs, decorated with moving figures of angels, with a wonderful Baroque casing supported by two Atlases, have just been thoroughly renovated. Due to numerous reparations, the large organs have often been out of operation. Therefore; a second set of smaller organs were built in the topmost gallery over the altar.
There are several levels of galleries inscribed with 78 fragments from the Bible and 47 allegoric scenes. These are richly decorated with epitaphs and guild shields of the bakers, brewers, butchers, cloth traders, etc., as well as portraits of the townsfolk and nobles.
The most privileged families had their own boxes, the most impressive of which is the one belonging to the Hochbergs. It is a token of gratitude for the family of Count Johann Heinrich von Hochberg, who donated two thousand oaks – two-thirds of the wood needed for the church’s construction.
Later, the main body of the church was extended to make room for additional Halls, including the Hall of Baptism and sacristy in the east, the Hall of the Dead in the west, the Hall of Weddings in the south.
While in the Baptism Hall, make sure to pay attention to the wooden polychrome baptismal font from 1661, the portraits of clerics who delivered sermons during the 300 years of the church’s history, and their lush liturgical robes.
While in the Baptism Hall, make sure to pay attention to the wooden polychrome baptismal font from 1661, the portraits of clerics who delivered sermons during the 300 years of the church’s history, and their lush liturgical robes.
Photo above by http://kosciolpokoju.pl/en/the-church/
An exhibition “Faith like a heart of bronze - Treasures of the Church of Peace in Świdnica” is located inside the church. Various objects connected with the Lutheran church throughout several centuries can be seen on display, including 350-year-old Bibles, paintings, Baroque liturgical vessels, portraits of parsons, volumes containing prayers and epitaphs.
The church is situated in the central part of the Square of Peace, surrounded by a wall. Among the historic stand of trees, one can find other 17th and 18th century buildings including, the belfry, the old Evangelical high school, the Bell-ringer’s house with the lavender garden, the Gatekeeper’s House (now the Baroccafe).
The cemetery served as the sole burial place for several thousand Evangelicals for 250 years.
Photo above by http://kosciolpokoju.pl/en/the-cementary/
We loved visiting these wonderful historic churches and I must say, the fact that this building, which is made from non-durable materials, has survived for 350 years, displays an astounding endurance that is nothing short of phenomenal!
Click Here to find out more about visiting the Church of Peace at Jawor!
Click Here to find out more about visiting the Church of Peace at Swidnica!
Click Here to find out more about visiting the Church of Peace at Swidnica!
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