St Valentine's Church in Bieruń

St Valentine's Church, called "Walencinek" by the people of Bieruń, is a wooden church of log construction, typical of Upper Silesian church architecture. Since 2015 it has been the Shrine of St Valentine. It belongs to the Wooden Architecture Trail of the Silesian Voivodeship.

A church in a cemetery

The church stands on the eastern outskirts of Bieruń, outside the historic limits of the town, in a cemetery. Until the end of the 18th century people who were refused burial in the parish cemetery were buried here. The date of the church's foundation is uncertain. The first mention comes from 1628, from the visitation report of Johann Hoffmann, the last Protestant dean of Pszczyna, according to which the church was most probably built in 1623-1626, when the parish church of St Bartholomew was in Protestant hands, until 1645.

A replacement church and fires

In 1677-1680 Walencinek stood in for the parish church of St Bartholomew, which had burned down in a town fire. The cult of St Valentine then flourished, reaching beyond the boundaries of the parish. In 1725 the church was thoroughly renovated. After the great town fire of 1845 religious life was moved to Walencinek again. In 1929 the church was recognised as a historic monument, and in 1942 the interior underwent a thorough renovation on the initiative of Father Jan Trocha.

In 1971 the church burned down because of faulty electrical wiring, and after rebuilding had begun it was deliberately set on fire in March 1972. The whole roof and ceiling burned, and the fire also reached the upper parts of the walls. The reconstruction, restoring the state before the fire, was completed in 1984.

The cult of St Valentine

St Valentine is the patron of people with mental illness and epilepsy, which explains the choice of this patron for a church standing close to the graves of people once thought to be possessed. Since 1961 the church has held relics of the saint, whose authenticity is confirmed by a document of 28 February 1961. In 1787 the parish priest obtained an indulgence from Rome, which every year on 14 February draws pilgrims from the whole area. The faithful then walk on their knees around the chancel and kiss the relics. In 2003 Valentine was made patron of Bieruń, and on 13 February 2015 the church was raised to the dignity of a shrine.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Krakowska 3, Bieruń; the church is in a cemetery, where rules of quiet and respect apply.
• The church belongs to the parish of St Bartholomew. For access to the interior, contact the parish or check its website.
• Nearby stands St Bartholomew the Apostle's Church, and in the town centre, about 500 m from Walencinek, is the Municipal Museum in Bieruń.