All Saints' Church in Bojszów

The wooden All Saints' Church in Bojszów, in the Rudziniec municipality, dates from the early 16th century. It belongs to the Wooden Architecture Trail of the Silesian Voivodeship (the main route and the Gliwice loop), and the green Centenary of Tourism Trail runs alongside.

History

The first mentions of the parish date from 1376. Dendrochronological research indicates that the present church was built in 1506, and its founder was the Ozorowski family. During the Reformation it was used by Protestants, and the Catholics regained it at the beginning of the 17th century. It was renovated after the Thirty Years' War, in the 18th century and in 1862, 1905 and 1964. After a new, masonry parish church was built, the old church serves as a branch church.

Construction and interior

The nave is of log construction and the tower is post-built, dating from 1545; the whole stands on a brick foundation. The roof is covered with shingles, a turret for the sanctus bell rises above the nave, and open galleries (soboty) run around the church. On the south side a women's porch (babiniec), that is a separate entrance for women, was added. The interior is mainly Baroque: a high altar from around 1700 with a painting of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, a Baroque pulpit from the 17th century and a late Gothic oak holy-water stoup from the 16th century. The patron saints' polychrome on the ceiling dates from 1965. Around the church stands a cemetery with a wooden fence and a small gate from 1728.

Nearby

It is about five kilometres from here to the palace and park complex in Pławniowice, and the shore of the Dzierżno Duże reservoir can be reached in less than seven. Another wooden church in the area is the Holy Trinity Church in Rachowice.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Kościelna 1, Bojszów.
• A branch church, used occasionally; it is worth arranging a visit to the interior with the parish.