Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Mysłowice

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Starokościelna Street is the oldest church in Mysłowice. It is a parish church of the Archdiocese of Katowice, and the brick building is listed in the heritage register.

From a Gothic building to a Baroque interior

The church was probably built in the early 14th century. The first known parish priest, Father Maciej, appears in a source from 1326, which describes the church as built of masonry and standing next to the market square. The chronicler Jan Długosz also mentioned the church. Originally it was Gothic and smaller than today, as it did not yet have the part that houses the chancel. Its present form was given to it by a Renaissance-style rebuilding, and the heritage register describes the style of the building as Baroque.

Traces of endowments by the town's former owners

The furnishings were rich, because Mysłowice was then ruled by the Salomon and Mieroszewski families, among the wealthiest noble families in Upper Silesia. Their endowments survive to this day: a stained-glass window of St Anne behind the altar in the chancel and a richly carved pulpit. To the left of the entrance hangs the epitaph plaque of Katarzyna Salomonowa, set into the wall in 1742-1744.

The main decoration of the church was created in 1740-1744 on the initiative of the parish priest Antoni Mieroszewski. His successor, Father Jan Krupski, added two side altars: of Our Lady of the Rosary and of St Barbara.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Starokościelna in Mysłowice.
• This is a working parish church, so the parish provides information about entering the interior and service times.
• Nearby you will find the Central Fire Service Museum in Mysłowice and the meeting point of three borders, the Three Emperors' Corner.