Neo-Gothic church of 1907-1911 in Szobiszowice, one of the largest in Silesia, with a tower 92 m high and a 60-stop organ.
The new St Bartholomew's Church in Gliwice-Szobiszowice is a Neo-Gothic church built in 1907-1911, regarded as one of the largest in Silesia. It is topped by a brick tower 92 m high, and inside stands the largest organ in Gliwice. The church was entered in the heritage register in 2011.
A growing number of parishioners and the poor technical condition of the old church led the parish to build a new one. The town and the parish's good financial situation helped. The work was initiated by Father Józef Stryczek, later the parish priest. The design was prepared by the Wrocław architect Ludwig Schneider, and construction was led by Feliks Wieczorek of Królewska Huta and F. Koźlik of Koźle. Building took place from 1907 to 1911, and the church was consecrated on 14 May 1911 by Cardinal Kopp.
The church is a three-aisled hall on a Latin cross plan with a transept. The chancel faces north-east, and a sacristy and a chapel adjoin its polygonal end. To the south-west rises a square tower 92 m high, crowned with a Neo-Baroque spire. The roof also carries a ridge turret with a similar spire. Eight entrances lead into the church, and the main portal is two-storeyed, pointed-arched and decorated with bas-reliefs. The interior is covered with ribbed cross vaults. The church can hold about 6,000 people.
The Neo-Gothic decoration dates from 1910-1911. The high altar was made by the firm "Mrowiec-Meyer" of Żernica, and at its centre is a painting of St Bartholomew. The side altars are dedicated to St Joseph and to the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the gallery stands a 60-stop organ by Paul Berschdorf of Nysa from 1911, with three manuals and a pedal. It is the largest organ in Gliwice by number of stops and the largest ever built by that firm. After the damage of 1945 the gable of the transept was rebuilt in brick, and the damaged stained glass was replaced with coloured glazing. In 1956-1957 the interior received new painted decoration.
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