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Web: www.broumovfarnost.cz
GPS souřadnice:
50°30'32.247"N
16°13'56.869"E
The Baroque Church of St. Prokop, a dominant landmark of Bezděkov nad Metují, is part of the so-called Broumov Group of Churches. This architectural gem from the 18th century was symbolically added to the municipal coat of arms in 1999 and declared a national cultural monument in 2022. Although Bezděkov is no longer geographically part of the Broumov region, it remains historically and spiritually inseparable from it.
History
The church was built between 1724 and 1727 on the initiative of Abbot Otmar Zinke of the Broumov Monastery. The construction was managed by the local community, with funding coming from parish revenues and public donations. The church was consecrated on August 14, 1729. The original parish house was a simple wooden building with a shed and a stable. An independent parish was established only in 1852. At that time, Bezděkov fell under the spiritual administration of Police nad Metují. The parish area also included nearby villages such as Petrovice and Petrovičky.
Architecture
The church is a prime example of High Baroque style. It features an octagonal floor plan with shallow side chapels and a transverse presbytery. The entrance façade is framed by two massive towers enclosing a three-axis front. The interior is decorated with a mirror vault and Rococo ceiling frescoes in the nave and presbytery. The design of the church is attributed to Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, a renowned Baroque architect who collaborated with the Broumov Monastery.
Interior and Furnishings
The main altar features a painting titled The Meeting of Duke Oldřich with St. Procopius, created in 1743 by Prague painter Jan Karel Kovář. Above it is an image of St. Gunther (Vintíř), and a sculpture of God the Father by sculptor C. Kowersche stands atop the altar's cornice.
The pulpit from 1752 bears the coat of arms of Abbot Fridrich Grundtmann, who occasionally celebrated Mass here. The side aisles contain Empire-style altars dedicated to St. Wenceslaus and the Virgin Mary. The interior also includes statues of the Four Church Fathers: St. Gregory, St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, and St. Augustine. In the 1930s, one of the side chapels was converted into a Lourdes chapel.
Outside the church, you’ll find several sculptures: a mission cross from 1936, a crucifixion group with St. Wenceslaus and St. Adalbert from 1809, a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows from 1826, and a statue of St. John of Nepomuk, which was moved in 1960 from its original location on a stone bridge.
Bells
Over the centuries, the church has had several bells. The original bells from the 16th to 18th centuries were confiscated during the world wars. In 1921, a local factory owner named Škop donated four new bells, but three of them were again taken during World War II. At the turn of the millennium, a public fundraising campaign helped finance a new 500 kg bell dedicated to St. Procopius. It was blessed on October 24, 1999, and since midnight on January 1, 2000, it has been ringing the hours regularly.
Modern Renovations and Restoration
1971–1993: gradual restoration of the towers, roof, and cemetery wall
1998–1999: restoration of the front façade, clock tower repairs, new bell installation
2018–2019: complete revitalization of the complex – repair of plaster, façades, and stone cemetery walls
Spiritual Life and Current Use
The church remains a vibrant center of spiritual and cultural life. Regular services are held every Sunday and Thursday, and the church also hosts classical music concerts. A local church choir is active here, and the church is freely accessible as part of the Summer of Open Churches initiative.
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