Church of St Barbara in Żarki

The Church of St Barbara in Żarki is a small brick filial church of the parish of Sts Simon and Jude Thaddaeus the Apostles. It was built as a hospital church, probably in the late 17th century, and is listed in the heritage register.

The building and its layout

It is an oriented, single-nave building with brick walls. The chancel is slightly narrower than the nave and closed in a semicircle, and a square porch was added on the west side. The gabled roofs are covered with shingles, and above the nave rises a square wooden turret for the bell.

Interior

Inside there are three altars. The main one is Neoclassical and dates from the second half of the 18th century, and it holds a Baroque painting of the patron saint, St Barbara. The Baroque side altars from the early 18th century are dedicated to St Catherine and St Agnes, and are decorated with their paintings from the first half of the 18th century. Services are held here rarely, once a year, so the interior is usually not accessible. The date is announced by the parish.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Częstochowska 17 in Żarki.
• The church is usually closed, so it is easiest to view it from the outside.
• Nearby are the synagogue in Żarki and the parish Church of Sts Simon and Jude Thaddaeus the Apostles.