GPS souřadnice:
50°36'50.747"N
16°13'19.5"E
The Church of St. Michael the Archangel is a striking landmark in the small village of Vernéřovice in the Broumov region. It stands on a hill in the center of the village, surrounded by a cemetery, and ranks among the most significant Baroque religious monuments in the area. Since July 1, 2022, it has been protected as a National Cultural Monument. It is part of the Broumov group of Baroque churches built under the influence of the Benedictine order and associated with architect Christoph Dientzenhofer.
History
According to local legend, Vernéřovice was founded in the second half of the 13th century by a man named Werner, who came from Thuringia with settlers invited by Abbot Martin I of Broumov. Werner received forested land from the abbot, which he cultivated and eventually became the village reeve. The first church in Vernéřovice was a wooden structure mentioned as early as 1412. In 1540, Abbot Matěj Mathias of the Broumov monastery commissioned the construction of a new church on the same site. This church was later enlarged in 1683 under Abbot Tomáš Sartorius. The current Baroque church of St. Michael was built between 1719 and 1720 under Abbot Otmar Daniel Zinke. The interior was completed in 1722. The design is traditionally attributed to Christoph Dientzenhofer, the most renowned architect of the Broumov churches, based on his close cooperation with the Benedictine monastery, though there are no surviving written records confirming his authorship.
Architecture
The church is oriented eastward and plastered, positioned on a hill in the heart of the village. Its floor plan consists of an elliptical nave measuring 26 meters long and 16 meters wide. A sacristy is attached to the eastern end, and a tower to the west. The façades are articulated with pilasters and smooth plaster bands forming subtle vertical and horizontal lines. The southern wall once featured a set of sundials. There are three entrances to the church: the main one beneath the tower, a side entrance from the south, and another leading into the sacristy. Above the main entrance is a Latin inscription on a marble plaque: "To the Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, Saint Michael, dedicated by Otmar, Abbot of Broumov" with the date 1719.
Inside, the nave feels like a spacious hall with ten wall-mounted pillars. The ceiling is flat and smoothly plastered. The interior is painted in soft blue-gray tones, with brown shading and a scalloped gray cornice reminiscent of a celestial vault. A particularly interesting feature is the choir loft, which extends into the nave on three arches. It is accessible via two wooden staircases and continues as galleries along both sides of the nave. These are not simply wall recesses but fully integrated spaces. The railings of the loft and galleries are formed from Baroque balusters, adding delicate detail to the interior.
Interior and Furnishings
The main altar features a painting by Antonín Felix Scheffler depicting the apparition of Archangel Michael on Mount Gargano in southern Italy. Flanking the altar are statues of the archangels Gabriel and Raphael. The sacristy is vaulted with lunettes and measures 5 by 4 meters. The church organ was renovated after 1990 and contributes to the musical life of the church. Also inside is a Renaissance tombstone of the Vernéřovice reeve Blasius Meissner, who died in 1579 at the age of 41. The relief shows a man with brown hair and beard, wearing a bluish robe and brown cloak.
Bell Tower and Bells
Until 1916, the church had five bells, but four were requisitioned during World War I. New bells were cast in 1924, though most were again lost during World War II. Today, the church owns one bell from the year 1600, measuring 105 cm in diameter. It bears a German inscription urging prayer in times of trouble and is marked with the coats of arms of the Broumov and Břevnov monasteries.
Church Grounds
The church is surrounded by a large cemetery, most of whose original German graves are now abandoned. In front of the church stands the Baroque rectory, which once served as the municipal office. It is adorned with a valuable coat of arms above the main entrance.
Spiritual and Cultural Importance
The Church of St. Michael is not only an architectural gem of the Broumov region but also an active place of worship, where services are held regularly—typically every second Sunday. Several notable Benedictine clergymen served in the parish and are buried in the so-called “priests' grave” within the local cemetery.
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