The Church of Peace in Jawor
It is the largest wooden religious building in the world. In 2001 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The history of the Church of Peace
It began with the end of the Thirty Years' War, which lasted from 1618 to 1648, between the Catholic supporters of the emperor and the Pope and the Evangelical rulers of the German principalities, Denmark and Sweden.
The Churches of Peace
On October 24, 1648, under the Peace of Westphalia, the Swedes, as guardians of the Evangelicals, persuaded the Habsburg ruler to grant the Silesian Lutherans the right to build three churches in the principalities: in Głogów, Jawor and Świdnica.
The beginning
The cornerstone for the construction of the church was laid on April 24, 1654. The designer of the temple and the head of the works was the Wrocław architect Albrecht von Soebisch. His assistant was Andreas Gamper, a carpenter from Jawor.
Balcony view of Evangelical Church of Peace in JaworEvangelical Church of Peace in Jawor
The beggining of the Basilica
The 44 m by 25 m church was built in the style of a basilica with two lower aisles. The interior area is 1,180 m2 and can accommodate as many as 6,000 worshipers in total.
Main altar and the backgroundEvangelical Church of Peace in Jawor
The Altar
The Altar was founded by the Hochberg family in 1672 and is the work of the master carpenter, Michał Schneider from Kamienna Góra.
The Center of the Altar
In the central part of the altar there is a painting of "Jesus in Gethsemane" - a work donated to the parish on the occasion of 200 years of the church's existence. Additionally, the altar is decorated with figures of Moses and John the Baptist.
Walls ornamentsEvangelical Church of Peace in Jawor
The richness of art
The furnishing of the church was modestly planned, the middle class did not have much money. Despite this, the paintings in all galleries, of which there are about 200, give the impression of wealth.
Ceiling painting anotherEvangelical Church of Peace in Jawor
The details
Each of the 200 paintings are detailed and well-thought
WritingEvangelical Church of Peace in Jawor
The history
The Church is full of details that reflect on the building's rich history.
Piano of Church of Peace in JaworEvangelical Church of Peace in Jawor
The organ
The organ was built for the first time in 1663 by the Legnica constructor Johann Hofrichter. It was a considerable expense for the parish, especially since the instrument required frequent and costly repairs.
The full sound
In 1855, for the bicentenary of the construction of the church, Andreas Lumert, an organ builder from Wrocław, built a new organ that counts, as in the original, 26 voices. In 1896 they were extended by Henryk Schlag from Świdnica.
Back to originals
A keyboard and five new registers were then added. Reconstruction of the organ in 2000-2005, the original version from 1855 was restored.
The baptismal font
Attention also deserves: a wooden baptismal font from 1655 - the oldest element of the church's furnishings funded by the von Schweinitz family.
The Pulpit
One of the most beautiful elements of the church is the baroque pulpit from 1670, the work of the sculptor Mateusz Knote from Legnica. The pulpit is supported by a real human size angel holding a book with the inscription "The Eternal Gospel".
Upper perspectiveEvangelical Church of Peace in Jawor
The blue ceiling
The whole beauty of the Church is complemented by a ceiling covered with white and blue floral ornaments, which were made in the Lower Silesian folk style.
Various shades of blue
Various shades of blue and the richness of ornamentation make the Church of Peace in Jawor delight every art and history lover, and the persistent eye will see something new every day.
