Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krowiarki

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krowiarki, on ul. Wyzwolenia, is a Neo-Romanesque church of 1909-1910. It was built after the death of Countess Wanda von Gaschin, the former patron of the parish, and its designer was Jan Affa of Racibórz.

The history of the construction

The first, wooden church was built in 1709. Countess Wanda von Gaschin died on 30 August 1908, and the new patron became Edgar Henckel von Donnersmarck. The foundation stone was laid on 25 July 1909, the cross on the tower was set on 3 October 1909, and the church was blessed on 4 September 1910. The tower comes from an earlier church of the 15th-16th century.

Architecture and furnishings

The brick and stone basilica has three naves of the same height and a cross vault with stone ribs. The tower has a square plan and a semicircular termination, and the portal is decorated with colonnettes and shallow arcades. The church has three altars; the high altar with a nativity scene was made by T. Buscher of Münster. The Stations of the Cross and the stained glass were supplied by a firm from Münster, the pulpit with the Evangelists was made by Masorz of Rybnik, and the font comes from Dziergowice. From the old church there survive a Baroque painting of St Anthony from about 1750, an image of Our Lady of Częstochowa from about 1700, a reliquary cross of 1760 and a chalice of 1761.

Its fate in the 20th century

In March 1945 artillery fire damaged the façade, the roof and the windows. In 1947 a new aluminium cross made from a shot-down Soviet aircraft was fitted on the tower. The organ was restored in 1948-1951, and in 1959 the bell "Stanisław" was blessed.

Nearby

Right next to it lies the Palace and Park Complex in Krowiarki, and a few kilometres farther the Palace in Strzybnik.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Wyzwolenia, Krowiarki (Pietrowice Wielkie municipality, Racibórz County).
• Check with the parish the hours when the interior can be entered.