Church of the Holy Trinity in Bytom

The Church of the Holy Trinity is a large, free-standing Neo-Gothic church in the centre of Bytom, built of brick in 1883-1886 to a design by Paul Jackisch. Together with the presbytery from 1880 it is entered in the heritage register.

A church on the site of a former chapel

It stands on the site of a chapel of the Catholic cemetery in the Piekary Suburb. Bytom was then growing rapidly, from about 1,700 inhabitants at the beginning of the 19th century to over 51,000 in 1900, and the cemetery ended up surrounded by buildings. The decision to build a new church was taken in 1873, the foundation stone was laid on 21 May 1883, and the consecration took place on 20 June 1886. The only relic of the former chapel is a figure of St Joseph from the 17th century.

Structure and furnishings

The basilica-type church has three naves and a transept, and a tower rises above the west porch, according to an article more than 70 metres high. The walls are of brick, the interiors plastered, the vaults cross-rib, and the window tracery and the top of the tower are made of sandstone. The most valuable item of furnishing is the high altar with sculptures by Buhl of Wrocław and a painting of the Holy Trinity against the background of the city by Fahnroth. The organ from 1926 was built by Gebrüder Rieger of Krnov; it has 52 stops, three manuals and a pedal.

Destruction in 1945

In 1945 the building was badly damaged. The interior was restored until 1956, and the remaining work continued until 1963. At that time new side altars and stained-glass windows were installed and two sandstone portals were made.

Nearby

A few hundred metres away stands the Silesian Opera building, and a walk leads to Kachel Park.

Practical information

• Address: ulica Józefa Kwietniewskiego 1, Bytom.
• This is a working parish church; information about the parish is given on the website trojca.net.