saint wenceslaus catholic church

This church is where I grew up. However, as a child I never appreciated the beauty and the history that surrounds this amazing church. If you're passing through town, be sure to take time and visit this beautiful, historic place of worship.

We loved the Church. The iron funeral Crosses in the Cemetery had a very sad, solemn Gothic look to them. Seeing the Church really helps see the influence of the Czech culture.

After visiting the Bily Brothers Clock Museum in Spillville we wandered up the hill to see the church. St. Wenceslaus is the oldest Czech Catholic church in America, but what makes it worth a visit is the graveyard. It is full of iron cross grave markers made by a local fellow named Charles Andera. Created in the early 20th century the crosses themselves reflect a variety of designs and are quite delicate in their details. What is amazing is that these crosses show up in Czech Catholic cemeteries in 12 states. No one quite knows how this man's work traveled so far from tiny Spillville. It's an intriguing stop. The church was open, too.