St Michael's Church in Księży Las

The Church of St Michael the Archangel in Księży Las, in the Zbrosławice municipality, is a Late Gothic wooden church, counted among the oldest wooden churches in Silesia. It lies on the Wooden Architecture Trail of the Silesian Voivodeship and is entered in the heritage register.

From the history of the church

The first mentions of the village date from 1302. The church was built in 1498 by the then owner of the estate, Johann Slawecki. In 1570-1629 it served the Lutheran congregation. In the 18th century a side chapel was added, and in 1905 a brick porch. In 1945 the church was badly damaged, and it was rebuilt in 1955. In 2020 the original shape of the turret spire was restored and the shingles on the roof were replaced.

Construction and furnishings

This is an oriented church of log construction, on a stone and brick foundation, with shingles on the walls and roofs. The chancel and the nave have an almost square plan. The sobotas (skirting galleries), that is the annexes around the church, have survived only on the north side, although in 1678 they surrounded the whole church. On the ridge stands a turret for a small bell.

The main altar of St Michael the Archangel is Neo-Baroque, and both side altars are Late Baroque, with paintings of the Crucifixion and St Catherine of Alexandria. On the gallery stands an organ from the early 20th century, made by an organ builder from Gliwice. Next to the church stands a cross from 1901.

Practical information

• Address: Wiejska 2, Księży Las.
• The church is a branch church and belongs to the parish in Kamieniec. It is worth checking with the parish whether the interior can be entered.
• Nearby lies Park Przygód i Atrakcji, and a little further away the castle in Stare Tarnowice.