Church of St Barbara in Gliwice

The Church of St Barbara in Gliwice was built as an Evangelical church, and today it is the church of a military parish. The Neo-Romanesque three-nave basilica with a single tower was built in 1856-1859 to a design by the Berlin architect Friedrich August Stüler.

From a wooden church to a brick basilica

The previous church was wooden and single-nave, existed before 1482 and survived until 1860. From 1809 both Catholic and Evangelical services were held in it, and on 7 July 1815 it was taken over by the Evangelicals. When it became too small, the local Evangelical parish built a new church: the foundation stone was laid on 15 May 1856, and the blessing took place on 1 November 1859. After the Second World War the church was handed over to the chaplaincy of the Polish Army.

During construction the tower leaned 15 cm out of plumb at a height of 18.3 m. After straightening work it was brought up to 25.3 m. The finished tower is 44.5 m tall, and its helm is 19.2 m.

Interior

It is a classic basilica with a flat ceiling, without a transept or side chapels. The side aisles are lower and have galleries supported on pillars. The high altar, in a classicising style, shows St Barbara among the female martyrs, and at its top is a copy of the painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa. The side altars are dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and to Saints Anthony, Joseph and Jude Thaddeus. Plaques and epitaphs commemorate those deported to Siberia, victims of the Gulag, the Lwów Eaglets and soldiers of the Home Army.

In front of the church stands a statue of St Barbara and a cross commemorating the former wooden church.

Nearby

The church lies in the centre, a few hundred metres from the Piast Castle and the Villa Caro. Not far away are also the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul and the Municipal Palm House.

Practical information

• Location: Gliwice city centre.
• This is a working garrison church; the rules of entry are given on the website of the military parish.