Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Bytom

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at ul. Kazimierza Pułaskiego 9 in Bytom, in the former Kleinfeld district, was originally the hall of a sports society. It became a church only in 1928, and it is run by the Jesuits.

From sports hall to church

The building was completed in 1925 and at first housed the headquarters of the sports society Sportsverein Vorwärts. Because of financial difficulties it was put up for sale. In 1928 it was bought by the master mason Franz Emanuel Neumann on behalf of the Holy Trinity parish in Bytom, which turned the assembly and training hall into a church. The adaptation work was led by the architect Gropper, a tower with a figure of Christ was added at the corner, and ten stained-glass windows were installed. The consecration took place on 5 May 1928, the parish was established on 31 January 1928, and the building was handed over to the Jesuits.

Architecture and interior

It is a single-nave hall church, brick and plastered, in the style of functionalism, with interior decoration partly referring to neoclassicism. The ceiling is of reinforced concrete, and inside there is one gallery with an organ. The high altar holds figures of Christ, St Ignatius of Loyola and St Francis Xavier.

Changes after the war

After the Second World War the church was taken over by the Polish Jesuits. The church was renovated in 1945 and 1978, in 1949 it was enlarged and the front of the chancel rebuilt, and in 1969 part of the cellar was turned into an academic centre with a chapel.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Kazimierza Pułaskiego 9, Bytom.
• The church is in use, so visiting depends on the services. The times are given by the parish.