Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, in Gliwice

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, stands on the Sikornik estate in Gliwice. It was built in 1981-1993, and the furnishing and decoration of the interior were still being completed over the following twenty-five years. It is a large, two-storey church with an upper and a lower church.

How the church in Sikornik was built

In the 1970s the new estate had about 23,000 residents and needed a church of its own. Efforts began in 1973, an application from 1977 was rejected, but after appeals by residents the voivode of Katowice gave permission on 28 June 1979. The cross and the site were consecrated in 1980, and construction began on 5 June 1981 to a design by the Gliwice architects Marian Polak and Maciej Bielski.

The foundation stone was blessed by Pope John Paul II on Góra św. Anny on 21 June 1983, and was laid in 1984. The parish was established in 1988, and the church was consecrated by Bishop Jan Wieczorek on 14 November 1993. The surroundings were completed in 1997, and the lower level was consecrated in 2008.

The building and interior

The church stands on a square plan with sides of 63 m. The upper church has an area of about 1,550 m² and a height of about 10 m, the lower about 850 m². The decoration of the upper level was made by the sculptor Stanisław Słodowy, author of, among other works, the sculpture of the Mother of God consecrated in 1998. The paintings of the Stations of the Cross were painted by Antoni Cygan. The altar contains relics of St Conrad of Parzham. The digital organ dates from 2001.

Nearby

The centre of Gliwice is a few kilometres from here, including the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul and the Piast Castle.

Practical information

• Location: Sikornik estate in Gliwice.
• This is an active parish church, so visiting depends on the services. Check Mass times with the parish.