Church of Christ the King in Żywiec

The Church of Christ the King stands in Żywiec, in the Sporysz district, on ulica Piotra Skargi, not far from the Żywiec Screw Factory. It is the seat of a parish covering Sporysz.

How the parish in Sporysz came about

The residents of Sporysz formerly belonged to the parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Żywiec. A dispute began in 1931, when in the church there a 15th-century cross was moved from a side altar to under the gallery, and some residents of Sporysz did not want to accept this. It was decided to place the cross in a chapel beyond the Sporysz Bridge, but it turned out to be too small. So another chapel was built next to the screw factory, and opponents of that idea brought about the building of a second one, on the other side of the river, where the historic cross finally ended up. Both chapels were built in 1936-1938.

Construction of the church

From September 1946 Father Zdzisław Dzidek served in the chapel under Obszar; he took on organising the new parish and building a church on the site of the chapel. Work began in July 1952, and residents of Sporysz, Świnna and Trzebinia took part in it. The foundation stone was blessed on 7 November 1953 by Eugeniusz Baziak, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Kraków. The main shell and roof were completed by 1958, and in the same year Sporysz became an independent pastoral centre.

The church was consecrated on 23 September 1962 by Bishop Karol Wojtyła. It became an independent parish on 6 July 1967, and finishing work continued until 1986.

Architecture and mosaics

The building has three naves and is built on a rectangular plan, referring to the basilica layout. The side aisles are lower than the main one and separated from it by arcades, the ceiling is flat, and on the roof stands a tall, openwork ridge turret.

Inside there are mosaics to a design by Prof. Wiktor Zin. The chancel wall is occupied by a mosaic of Christ the King among angels, mosaic Stations of the Cross are placed on the walls of the main nave, and the windows have stained glass with geometric patterns. A chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help has been arranged in a side aisle.

Practical information

• Address: ulica Piotra Skargi, Żywiec-Sporysz.
• This is an active parish church. Check service times and the possibility of visiting with the parish.
• In the centre of Żywiec, about 2 km away, stands the Co-cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to which the residents of Sporysz formerly belonged.