Church of St Michael the Archangel in Ruda Śląska

The Church of St Michael the Archangel stands in Orzegów, a district of Ruda Śląska, and is a parish church of the Archdiocese of Katowice. It is a Neo-Romanesque church with a twin-towered façade, built in 1894-1895 and extended in 1911-1912.

Construction and extension

In the 1860s services in Orzegów were held in a school building. The church building committee was formed at the end of the 19th century, and construction was financed partly by Joanna and Hans Ulrich von Schaffgotsch, partly by residents through donations, and the director of the Gotthard mine also pledged a contribution. Work began in 1894 and ended in December 1895.

The church quickly proved too small. Because of mining damage a new location could not be chosen, so it was decided to extend the existing church to a design by Max Giemsa. Work lasted from 1911 to 1912, and the consecration took place on 6 October 1918.

Architecture and stained glass

The church has a single nave, with a transept and a square chancel. The façade has two towers, and the part between them is crowned by a triangular gable. The nave has five bays and a music gallery on semicircular arcades, and is covered by a flat ceiling, while the chancel has a barrel vault.

The interior is decorated with stained glass from two periods. The older, from before the extension, was made by the firm of Adolph Seiler of Wrocław. The second group was made in 1911-1912 in the workshop of Carl Busch, and among them are a rose window with an image of St Michael the Archangel slaying the dragon in the chancel and a window with a bust of St Barbara in the chapel on the north side.

Practical information

• Location: Orzegów, Ruda Śląska. An active parish church, so visiting the interior depends on the times of services.
• Nearby: the church in Szombierki and the Szombierki Heat and Power Plant.