The first written report of the Church in Vlčnov can be found in a scroll belonging to the Dominican monastery in Olomouc and is dated 1373. However, the gothic portal under the tower proves that the Church had already been built in the middle of the 13th century.
The Church was founded by the Cistercian monastery. It is also possible that the Vlčnov priests were also members of the Velehrad monastery. The Church’s appearance is described in the decanal register from the 17th century.
The Church was equipped with two altars: the high altar was consecrated to St. Jacob and was accompanied by a gold-plated painting; the second and less important altar was smaller, without further indication. In addition, there was a smaller presbytery with a tabernacle, a short bay and a wooden tower with one bell. A walled-in slab near the high altar boasted an epigraph explaining that both the sons of Matouš Junior from Kunovice were buried there on January 9, 1560. This slab can still be seen in the old chapel today.
The first reconstruction of the Church was carried out in 1779. At that time, a whole new and bigger presbytery was built so as to provide more space for people. The whole Church was given a new arcade and a square stone pavement. A new masonry tower with three bells was built. One of the bells had already been cast in 1597 and carried the following epigrap
h: “God’s word remains forever”. There were already three altars in the Church. The high altar boasted a quality baroque finish and pillar architecture with an extension. Sculptures of two apostles – Peter and Paul – were placed alongside the pillars. Both side altars carry signs of pilaster altar architecture with gold-plated heads. Sculptures of small angels rise on the side curtains. A wooden rostrum used to stand between the presbytery and the bay, with a baptistry opposite. The Church bay was equipped with benches.Since the Church did not suffice for the needs of God’s believers even when so big, 1894 saw the establishment of a Unity for the building of one of the Lord’s Parish Churches Vlčnov. Construction of a new church was begun in 1928. The architectural plans were compiled by prof. Ing. Vladimír Fischer, who lived in Brno. After the Feast of Corpus Christi held on June 8th, 1928, the middle section of the Church, the Church and tower roof were taken down. The brickwork, carpentry and stonework were performed by a constructor called O. Jedlička, who came from Uherské Hradiště. While digging the foundations, an ossuary (charnel house) was found 1 – 1,5 m deep.
The foundation stone of the new building was laid on June 25th, 1928 on the foundations of a new presbytery. The original Church presbytery was situated facing the east; the new presbytery is situated on the north side, perpendicularly to the old Church building. Therefore, the entire Church lies in a north-south direction. The presbytery of the original Church has been retained in the form of a side chapel, which has since then been called the old chapel. Construction of the new Church was completed by the end of 1928; sanctification of the Church was performed on June 29th, 1929. Presently, the oldest section of the Church is a registered national landmark.