Easter collection supported the renovation of the church in Olomouc

The Olomouc community has undertaken a really big project, repairing their "church on the waterfront". It is undergoing a costly renovation, the total budget is around 18 million CZK (more than 720.000 euros) and includes the repair of the roof, facades and all related elements.

This Easter, all evangelical congregations in the Czech Republic contributed to the roof repair. Individuals and the public also contributed.

Moreover, this year's collection was held with one significant change: what was raised over CZK 1 million, Jerome's Unity doubled. It was able to do so thanks to the donation of Br. Ladislav Hanus, who bequeathed his property to the Church after his death. In the end, the total proceeds of the collection amounted to 2.550.000 CZK (ca. 100.000 euros) and will significantly help the parish congregation of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren in Olomouc on its way to the complete revitalization of the church.

The church on the waterfront serves as a meeting center for all generations

The congregational facilities are used for worship, cultural and community activities, not only for the parish congregation, but often for senior or church-wide gatherings. In addition to regular worship services and Bible classes, it offers gatherings during the week for children, youth, young adults and seniors. The sisters and brothers also enjoy spending time together on Congregational Sundays, inviting interesting guests. During Advent and Lent they prepare charity auctions and use the proceeds to support their partner center Diaconia ECCB in Rýmařov. Until recently, they also provided asylum for several war refugees.

Why the reconstruction? And why now?

"There are several reasons why we embarked on such an extensive reconstruction. The main one is the rapid deterioration of not only the roofing itself, but also the roof trusses where the roof leaks. Unfortunately, it has already happened that parts of the roofing have been found down in the street after a storm. Since the roof truss itself has been in use for more than 100 years and the roofing for about 50, this rebuilding is necessary," the Olomouc residents describe their motivation.

The Olomouc Evangelical congregation is perceived as one of the larger ones within the Moravian-Silesian Seniorate and the whole church, as one of the ones that can be approached for help of various kinds. "At the moment we find ourselves in a situation where we need help. In order for our church to continue to serve the purpose for which it was built by our forefathers, it must receive a new roof. And the investment is so large that we need the help of other congregations to do it. We believe that with them and with God's blessing we can manage this reconstruction," the representatives of the Olomouc congregation assess the situation. From the start of the construction work until the end of 2023, the congregation has already invested around 3.5 million CZK (140.000 euros) from its own funds.

The demanding reconstruction is divided into six phases and will be carried out from 2022 to 2027. It includes design preparation and consultation with the National Heritage Institute, the issuance of a building permit, the repair of the church tower (roof, roof trusses, façade and structural elements), the reconstruction of the roof on the main nave (including the relevant roof trusses and lightning rods) and the complete façade of the church, including the stripping of damp walls.

The rough estimate of the cost is around 18 million CZK in today's prices.

Collection for the Jerome Unity's Main Gift of Love

Last year's church-wide collection for the Main Gift of Love brought in 1.394.023 CZK (more than 55.000 euros). The funds collected were donated to Libčice nad Vltavou by decision of Jerome's Unity, where they are helping to co-finance the construction of a pastor's apartment. A year earlier, the proceeds amounted to 1.131.562 CZK (45.000 EUR) and were allocated to the congregation in Chrást near Pilsen for the "Sanctuary" Project.