Zábřeh (Šumperk) - The oldest church in Zábřeh in the Šumperk region, dedicated to Saint Barbara, is set to undergo restoration after many years. Residents of the city can also participate in the public fundraising for the extensive reconstruction of the monument, which has been closed for years. The call for donations was announced by members of the eponymous civic association formed specifically to save the church. The cost of the repairs is estimated by the association members to be nearly nine million crowns. In the future, events such as weddings could potentially take place there. "The church was closed due to a state of emergency in the 1990s because the vault collapsed and fell into the nave of the church. Since then, the roof has been repaired, but it has only been treading water. Many residents of Zábřeh have emotional ties to this church and wanted to help with this issue," said one of the members of the civic association, Josef Klimek, to ČTK today. The national cultural monument is to be repaired in two phases. This year, the association members have planned repairs to the ceiling structures, flooring, window replacements, and the addition of a sacristy worth three million crowns. "We have received proceeds from previous donations and collections amounting to 376,000 crowns from the parish, an additional 500,000 crowns has been promised by the city, and we want to apply for funds from regional grants for the repair of protected monuments," Klimek added. The remaining funds are to be raised through a public collection announced at the beginning of this year. The association members primarily want to open the monument to the public after years but also plan further uses for it. "The church could be used for weddings or funerals, for example. It has a capacity of around one hundred places. Unlike the large parish church, the atmosphere would not be lost here," Klimek added. The Church of Saint Barbara dates back to the 15th century and was previously part of the Zábřeh castle. The last major reconstruction took place in 1774 when the church was dedicated to Saint Barbara. A similar public collection for the rescue of a monument was recently held in the regional city, where people contributed half a million crowns for a new bell named after Saint Zdislava, which returned to the dome of St. Michael's Church after many years. The collection does not end there. People are already contributing for another bell, which will be named Saint Michael, to be returned to the church tower in the middle of this year.
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