Kościół Pokoju w Jaworze

Timber, clay and straw became the materials of the large church built by Jawor’s Lutherans after the Thirty Years’ War. Permission to build followed the Peace of Westphalia, but came with restrictions. The church had to stand outside the town walls, without a tower, and be paid for by the congregation. Funds were also raised beyond Silesia.

Master carpenter Andreas Gamper carried out Albrecht von Säbisch’s design. Construction took place in 1654-1655, and the first service was held on the fourth Sunday of Advent in 1655. The church was dedicated to the Holy Spirit. The network of beams visible on the façades forms its structure; inside, galleries surround the nave and aisles.

Successive generations added to the furnishings. Four tiers of side galleries were decorated with biblical scenes, coats of arms and craftsmen’s emblems. An angel supports the pulpit, while the altar combines Baroque sculptures with a nineteenth-century painting of Christ at prayer. The font, confessionals and pastor’s stall relate to specific religious practices and benefactors. Lummert’s organ represents a later, nineteenth-century stage in the interior’s history.

The church remains a Lutheran place of worship. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001 and is surrounded by Peace Park, formerly a cemetery. Visitors can listen to its history in a recording available in eleven languages. A separate digital project has focused on the building’s exterior and selected furnishings.