Church of St George in Mszana

The Church of St George in Mszana is a neo-Gothic brick parish church, consecrated in 1898. It stands in Mszana in Wodzisław County.

The third church in the village

The first church in Mszana, probably also dedicated to St George, was wooden and survived until 1709. In that year the next one was built, which was demolished after the present brick church was erected. The foundation stone was blessed on 30 March 1896, and the church itself was consecrated on 24 April 1898 by Cardinal Georg Kopp of Wrocław.

Makers and furnishings

The neo-Gothic design was prepared by Joseph Ebers, and the construction was carried out by the firm of the Fuchs brothers of Rybnik. The altars, pews, pulpit, font and confessional were made by the sculptor Józef Rzytki of Racibórz, and the church was painted by Michał Rzytki. The organ was built by the firm Klimosz and Dürschlag of Rybnik. The builder of the church was the then parish priest Wilhelm Tusker.

War damage and renovations

During the Second World War the church, its tower and walls were considerably damaged, and the bells were taken away. Reconstruction lasted from 1946 to 1948. In 1981 Bishop Herbert Bednorz blessed three new bells named Maria, Józef and Rafał, weighing 1,500 kg in total. In 1984 the roof was covered with copper sheeting and the replacement of the stained-glass windows began, to a design by Witold Pałka. The tower was fully covered with copper in 2002. In 2003 and 2004 a pre-funeral chapel was built on the site of the old presbytery, and the organ was thoroughly renovated in 2005.

Practical information

• Village: Mszana, Wodzisław County.
• The church is active as a parish church. Service times are given by the parish.
• Nearby are the Mszana Motorway Bridge, about 1.4 km from the church, and the 1 Maja Coal Mine.