Church of the Bohemian Brethren in Zelów

The evangelical reformed church was built in the first half of the 19th century. Its modest neoclassical furnishing is also 19th-century. In the church there are plaques commemorating John Huss and John Calvin.

Description

The evangelical reformed church in Zelów was built in 1821-1825. It is a neoclassical building designed by Jan Zille. It is based on a rectangular design with a square tower on its west side. According to evangelical doctrine, the interior is virtually devoid of decoration. In the church there are stone plaques commemorating John Huss, John Calvin, Jan Łaski and Jan Komeński. The single hall with a flat ceiling is divided into naves by wooden galleries supported by columns that run along three of the walls.

Next to the church there is a cemetery. Some of inscriptions on tombstones and monuments, including graves of several founders of Zelów, are in Czech.

Date or time of building

1825

The 19th century

Date or time of building

1825 r. (XIX w.)

Building material

Brick church, plastered.

History

The Bohemian Brethren bought the Zelów estate in December 1802. Firstly, a school used to serve as the house of prayers. The church was opened on the 3rd of July 1825. It was funded by the Kingdom of Poland and Czech people from Zelów and nearby villages. In that period there were 700 people in the congregation. At the end of the century there were 3000 of them. In later years some members of the congregation left Zelów and went into the heart of Russia. In the interwar period some of them moved to Volhynia. After the first world war they could return to their independent homeland. Many of them, in search of better life conditions, moved to Łódź and Żyradów. However, the parish still developed quickly until the second world war. In the town there used to be schools, an orphanage and an old people's home. Deacons performed their duties. Professional trainings were provided to the locals. The town has its own orchestras, vocal bands, choirs and a theatre. Thus, it was a cultural and educational centre. The Bohemian Brethren introduced their traditional handicraft products and characteristic wooden architecture in Zelów.

After the second world war most of the locals left the town. Most of them went to Czechoslovakia. A few members of the congregation who stayed continued to cultivate their tradition and their faith.

Curious details

On the 14th of September 2003 Wiera Jelinek was ordained the first female priest in the history of the Evangelical Reformed Church in the Republic of Poland. She performed her duties in the Zelów church from 1982 to 2010.

Form of legal protection

The entries in the Voivodeship Heritage Register:

• Church of the Bohemian Brethren, registry number: 431 of July 21, 1967