Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gliwice-Bojków

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a parish church on the Bojków estate in Gliwice, belonging to the Gliwice-Ostropa deanery of the Diocese of Gliwice. It took its present form after a thorough rebuilding of the former church, carried out from 1898 to 1911.

Rebuilding and reconstruction

In 1898 the rebuilding of the old church began, at first retaining its walls and tower. When the works were finished, in 1907 the inner walls of the former church were taken down. The new church was blessed on 31 May 1911 by the auxiliary bishop of Wrocław, Karl Augustin. During the fighting of 1945 the building was seriously damaged. Parishioners renovated it thoroughly in 1958-1964, and a further renovation was carried out in 1991-1999.

Organ and bells

In the gallery above the main entrance stands a 34-stop organ by Gebrüder Rieger from 1913, with two manuals and a pedal, with pneumatic action. The instrument was fitted with a rarely found, experimental transposition device. As of 2019 it was disconnected in a way that made it unusable.

The church also has a set of four bronze bells cast in 1964 at the Bachert bell foundry in Bad Friedrichshall. They were originally made for the Evangelical Lutheran church in Berne and came to Bojków after that church was closed. They weigh about 553, 321, 227 and 131 kg, and each has an inscription with a biblical text.

Nearby

Closest, about 3 km from here, are House of Air and Kolejkowo. In the centre of Gliwice stand the Piast Castle and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, about 4.5 km from here.

Practical information

• Location: the Bojków estate in Gliwice.
• The church is an active parish church. Service times, and whether the interior can be visited, should be checked with the parish.