St Mark's Church in Zawada

St Mark's Church in Zawada, in the municipality of Zbrosławice, is a small masonry church from the mid-19th century, entered in the heritage register. It was built as a pilgrimage church and to this day draws people from the area with its annual indulgence feast on St Mark's Day.

From a wooden chapel to a brick church

The first mention of the church comes from a visitation record of 1679, when it was wooden. The masonry building was erected in 1851, and the builder was Fr Adrian Włodarski, the parish priest of Pyskowice. At first Masses were celebrated here two to four times a year. The place is linked with a legend that crayfish carried the building materials from Zaolsze to Zawada, which was taken as a sign to dedicate the church to St Mark. In 1985 a ridge turret was moved to the church from Karchowice and hung in the attic.

Interior

The church has a single nave and a single altar, which holds a painting of St Mark from the 17th century. The heritage register describes the style of the building as classicist. Every year on 25 April, the patron's feast, a procession comes here from Pyskowice. The church is a branch of the parish of St Catherine of Alexandria in Karchowice, and nearby lies the historic waterworks station in Zawada.

Practical information

• Address: ulica Bytomska, Zawada (municipality of Zbrosławice).
• The rules for visiting and the times of services are given by the parish in Karchowice.