The Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (SECAC) (
Czech: Slezská církev evangelická augsburského vyznání (SCEAV),
Polish: Śląski Kościół Ewangelicki Wyznania Augsburskiego) is the biggest
Lutheran Church in the
Czech Republic. Its congregations are located mainly in the Czech part of
Cieszyn Silesia. A significant number of the followers belong to the
Polish ethnic minority. There is a strong heritage of
pietism and
evangelicalism in the church. In 2009, it reported 15,632
baptized members.[1]
The church in its present form was established after
World War I, but its origins can be traced to the 16th century. Lutheranism started to spread over Cieszyn Silesia during
Luther’s lifetime. From 1610 it was subject to counter-reformation. In 1709 a
church in Cieszyn was given to the Lutherans by
Emperor Joseph I and this church became a significant centre of
pietism and played an important role in the establishment of the
Moravian Church. The revivalist movement was also strongly present in Cieszyn Silesia at the beginning of the 20th century, culminating in 1905.[clarification needed] The spiritual leader of the church during its persecution under the
Communist regime in Czechoslovakia was pastor
Władysław Santarius.