Church of St Anthony of Padua in Częstochowa

The Church of St Anthony of Padua stands on Szczytowa Street in the Ostatni Grosz district of Częstochowa. It is a modernist brick church with a 50-metre tower, built over almost two decades, from 1938 to 1956. Since 1997 it has had the status of the shrine of St Anthony.

A long construction

The first designs from 1931 were rejected. In the second competition in 1934 the design by Wiesław Kononowicz won, but the commission did not accept it, so the design by the Kraków architect Zygmunt Gawlik, awarded second prize, was sent for realisation. The structure, a reinforced-concrete skeleton filled with brick, was designed by Stefan Bryła. Construction began on 16 August 1938. By 1939 the foundations and plinth had been completed, and after the war most of the walls that had been raised had to be pulled down. Work was resumed in 1947 and completed in the shell state in 1956.

Under pressure from the authorities the architect had to lower the tower by 10 m, giving up one of the three reinforced-concrete segments. Gawlik also designed the furnishings: the main and side altars, two pulpits, a font and seven metal chandeliers. The windows have stained glass by Zofia Baudouin de Courtenay. The church was consecrated on 16 October 1956.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Szczytowa 15, Częstochowa.
• The church is entered in the heritage register. Check with the parish the rules of entry outside services.