Evangelische Pfarrkirche A.B. Albeck

The Evangelical Parish Church in Sirnitz stands in the village of Sirnitz, part of the Albeck municipality in the Feldkirchen district of Carinthia. It is a simple, towerless church built in the round-arch style with a polygonal apse. The church was constructed in 1860 as a Tolerance church after the Tolerance Patent of 1781 allowed Protestants to practise their faith openly. The building is worth visiting for its historical significance and architectural charm. During the 16th century, the Reformation spread to Sirnitz, and despite the Counter-Reformation led by Bishop Christoph Andreas von Spaur, Protestantism persisted as a form of crypto-Protestantism. By 1781, 134 people declared themselves Protestant, and the church was built to serve this community. The 1991 restoration returned the church to its original colours, preserving its historical appearance. Inside, the church features a barrel-vaulted ceiling with lunettes and a high altar in the Baroque style. The altar painting depicts Christ blessing the congregation, and the pulpit and organ date from the church’s construction. Opposite the church, a community house was added in 2003, completing the site’s role as a centre for local Protestant life. The churchyard, where the Tolerance church was first built, remains an important part of the site’s history.