As one of the few in the region, the church was always in possession of Catholics.

History

The village of Cierznie was awarded a charter granting rights to the settlement in 1351. The first mention of a parish in the village dates back to the mid-16th century. In the 17th century, after the Polish-Swedish wars, Cierznie was deserted for a long time. Probably at that time, the church became a filial church of the Uniechowo parish and continues to serve this function today. The present-day church was built in 1785. Between 1975 and 1980, the church was partially modified, which involved the demolition of a half-timbered sacristy and construction of a new sacristy and a gallery.

Description

The church is located in the centre of the village, on the village square. It is oriented. The churchyard was originally used as a graveyard (no gravestones have been preserved to this day). Currently, the plot is enclosed with a fence. It boasts single old-growth trees, which are the remains of the former border plants. The north-eastern corner of the plot features a free-standing wooden bell tower.

The body of the church is a half-timbered structure with brick infills, and is covered with plaster. The tower features a post-and-beam structure covered with weatherboards. The building is erected on a rectangular floor plan, features a single interior space and an altar section closed off on three sides. The church is cuboidal in shape. Its western section features a tower (embedded in the nave). The nave is covered with a gable roof, the altar section with a gable roof with a hip end, whereas the tower is topped by a Baroque three-storey bulbous dome with a lantern. The main entrance to the building is located on the west façade, and the side entrance on the south façade. The south façade is pierced by a door dating back to the second half of the 18th century (or later), with planks stacked in the shape of a rhombus and a relief plaque.

The window openings in the façades are surmounted by semicircular arches. The façades are not adorned with any special decorations; however, the clearly apparent structure of the building featuring a dense checkerboard arrangement of posts and beams and the colours of wood contrasted with plastered infills serve as a decoration.

The interior of the church is predominantly modern. The historic furnishings include 4 paintings from 1758 (in a rococo framework), nineteenth-century painting, confessional and pews.

The historic monument is open to visitors. Viewing of the church is possible directly before and after services.

compiled by Beata Dygulska, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Gdańsk, 24-09-2014.

Bibliography

• Sadkowski T., Drewniana architektura sakralna na Pomorzu Gdańskim w XVIII-XX w., Gdańsk 1977.
• Fryda M., Kościoły Człuchowa i okolicy, Człuchów 1995, s.20
• Karta ewidencyjna zabytku architektury. Kościół rzym.-kat. filialny p.w. św. Piotra i Pawła, opr. D. Cieślik,1993, Archiwum NID