The church tower in Brtnice now has its dome back, covered with copper after the renovation

photo: Deník/Jana Kodysová

Brtnice - This morning, workers installed the repaired roof on the bell tower of the baroque Church of St. James the Greater in Brtnice. The lifting of the approximately 15-meter high dome was successful on the second attempt; the first attempt on Tuesday was thwarted by strong winds. The roof of the tower was damaged by wood-boring beetles, causing two million koruna in damage to the parish. Repairs have been ongoing since August 18, when the dome was removed by a large crane and placed on the ground between the church and the rectory.

"Thank God it turned out well," said Brtnice priest Petr Balát to ČTK after today's work was completed. The carpentry company will continue to work on the tower for another two weeks to finish the cladding and metal sheeting on the lower part of the roof that rests on the masonry.

Today, the crane first lifted the heavy lower part of the roof, then added the part with the lantern and the top cross. Because it did not fit exactly, the carpenters had to adjust the structure. During a test on Monday, when they tried to assemble the roof on the ground using a small crane, the two parts fit together well. "But now, during the lift, it stretched a bit," Balát stated.

In recent weeks, workers replaced the most damaged parts of the wooden structure of the tower roof, as agreed with heritage preservationists; they retained some of the original wooden elements. The dome was covered with copper sheeting in exchange for the old red-painted galvanized steel.

The parishioners placed a capsule with a message inside the ball beneath the cross. It contains a handwritten note about the repair and life of the parish, photographs, newspapers, coins, data on a flash drive, and also a bottle of plum brandy donated by newlyweds. The children made a rosary and signed its wooden beads.

The church has the appearance from 1784, when it was restored after a fire; its tower, including the roof, measures 39 meters. Half of the costs for the new tower roof will be covered by contributions from the Ministry of Culture and the town of Brtnice. The remaining portion will be paid by the parish through donations.