St Sigismund's Church in Częstochowa

St Sigismund's Church on Daszyński Square is the oldest church in Częstochowa. It was built in the Gothic style of brick in the early 15th century, and in the parish documents it appears in 1474 as already existing.

A parish under the care of the Pauline Fathers

In 1474 the Bishop of Kraków, Jan Rzeszowski, entrusted the running of the parish to the Pauline Fathers, who held the role until 1866. In the mid-17th century a brick monastery was built next to the church, which today serves as the presbytery. In 1625-1643 Grzegorz Otwinowski founded the chapels of St Gregory and St Anne and a sacristy, which was demolished in the 19th century.

Gothic body and Baroque façade

The church originally consisted of a chancel, a nave and a tower. In the second half of the 18th century it was converted into a three-aisled building, and in 1783 a façade with two towers was added. Until 1825 there was a Catholic cemetery by the church, closed down when the Aleja Najświętszej Maryi Panny was built. The organ was built in 1954 by Stefan Truszczyński; it has 29 stops and two manuals.

Nearby

It takes a few minutes to walk to the Archcathedral Basilica and the Bronisław Huberman Częstochowa Philharmonic, and about two kilometres to Jasna Góra.

Practical information

• Address: plac Ignacego Daszyńskiego 8, Częstochowa.
• A working church; the parish gives the times when the interior can be visited.