It is characterised by a well-preserved architectural form and valuable eighteenth-century furnishings.

History

The preserved documents indicate that the church in Czarne existed as early as in 1395 and was a filial church of the parish in Sokole. In 1550, the church was taken over by Protestant, and then in 1596 again returned to Catholics. In 1617, it became a parish church and the seat of a deanery. In 1686, the deanery was liquidated because of a small number of the faithful. The church in Czarne was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The first church was destroyed, and then rebuilt in 1645-1646. Then, it was destroyed by fire in 1653 and again erected in 1673. After another fire, the church was reconstructed in 1720-1721. The last destructive fire devastated the building in 1755. The building that has been preserved to this day was built in 1756 (as evidenced by the dates of construction on the tower flag: 1673, 1710 i 1756). The church underwent complete renovation between 2010 and 2012.

Description

It is situated in the north-western part of the town. The church is oriented. It is located on a plot facing A. Mickiewicza Street to the north, Kościelna Street to the east, T. Kościuszki Street to the south, and neighbours the buildings in Cicha Street to the west. The churchyard was originally used as a graveyard, of which two gravestones has been preserved to this day. The plot boasts single old-growth trees.

The church is a half-timbered structure with brick infills, and is not covered with plaster. The roof is clad with wood shingles. The building was erected on a rectangular floor plan and features a chancel closed off on three sides. It was extended by two annexes: a chancel-sacristy to the north and a porch to the south of the nave. The body of the church is fragmented and consists of nave, narrower and lower chancel, two small annexes, and a two-storey tower embedded in the nave to the west. The nave of the church is covered with gable roof, the chancel with a roof consisting of five sections, the annexes with mono-pitched roofs, and the tower with a bulbous dome with a lantern.

The façades are pierced by window openings topped by segmental arches; the east wall of the chancel has a round window. A profiled cornice stretches under the eaves. 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 church features lavish Baroque and Rococo interior fittings dating from the 18th century: gallery, main altar with a cordovan antependium, ambo, baptismal font, confessional, and doors from the chancel to the sacristy and from the sacristy to the ambo. In addition, the porch is fitted with a granite stoup from the 15th century (uncertain dating).

The 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, 26-09-2014.

Bibliography

• Sadkowski T., Drewniana architektura sakralna na Pomorzu Gdańskim w XVIII-XX w., Gdańsk 1977
• Fryda M., Kościoły Człuchowa i okolicy, Człuchów 1995, s. 24-25
• Karta ewidencyjna zabytku architektury. Kościół rzym.-kat. Pw. Wniebowzięcia NMP, opr. D. Cieślik,1999, Archiwum NID