Church of St Hyacinth in Rydułtowy

The Church of St Hyacinth stands in the Radoszowy estate in Rydułtowy and is a parish church belonging to the Niedobczyce deanery of the Archdiocese of Katowice. It was built in 1920-1922, and its history was marked by mining damage and later changes to the decoration.

How the church in Radoszowy came about

The church building committee was formed in 1919, and work began a year later. The church was blessed on 22 February 1922, and on 18 July 1925 it was consecrated by Father August Hlond. During the consecration, three bells hung in the tower were blessed. The church was kept in the Neo-Baroque style.

What mining and the Second Vatican Council changed

Mining beneath the church seriously damaged it, so in 1968 a renovation began: the foundations were strengthened, and the ceiling, altars and the whole decoration were changed. After the liturgical changes following the Second Vatican Council, the old altars from 1922 were removed and the interior was furnished in a modern way. In 2017 the decoration was changed again: three new altars were made, a main one and side ones, matching the Neo-Baroque style and echoing the original ones.

The painting in the new main altar shows a scene from the life of St Hyacinth, who, during the Tatar attack on Kyiv, carries the Blessed Sacrament and a figure of the Virgin Mary out of the church. On either side stand sculptures of Blessed Czesław and Blessed Bronisława, relatives of the saint. At the top of the altar is a restored painting of Christ from the first altar of the church. A large wooden crucifix, the work of Professor Zygmunt Brachmański, was moved to the porch.

Practical information

• Location: Radoszowy estate in Rydułtowy, Wodzisław County.
• The church is active as a parish church, so it is best visited outside services; check Mass times in the parish announcements.
• In the area, about 3.4 km further on, is the Church of St George in Rydułtowy.