It is classified as a towerless church of the “Kraśnik” type.

History

The parish in Dzierzkowice has existed since 1326. The present church was erected in 1730-1748. It was consecrated in 1751 by Bishop Kajetan Sołtyk. The church was renovated in 1766-81, then thoroughly restored in 1892. During that restoration, the nave was heightened considerably, a church porch was added and the interiors were covered with plaster. The church was renovated again in 1975 and 1986 (replacement of the foundations, roofing, plastering and paneling) and in 2004-5 (replacement of the floors).

In 1880, a brick belfry-gate was erected next to the church. 

Description

The church is about 300 m to the east of the Urzędów - Księżomierz road. It is situated near the Wyżnica River, on the former floodplain (in 1878, an embankment was built to protect the church against flooding). Oriented structure. It is a single-nave church, consisting of a rectangular main body, a chancel - equal in height but narrower and closed on three sides. From the south, the chancel is adjoined by a sacristy. From the north, it is adjoined by a little treasury and from the west - by a small church porch, which was added later. It is a wooden church, made of pine logs, with a corner-notched log structure, reinforced with vertical supports and covered with weatherboards on both sides. It has a rafter and collar roof truss, reinforced by two walls with vertical tie posts.

The nave, chancel and the church porch are covered with gable roofs. In the eastern part of the roof ridge of the nave, there is a multi-storey ridge turret. The roofs have sheet metal cladding. The elevations are vertically covered with board and batten siding and surmounted with vertical supports which imitate pilasters. On the façade axis, the entrance is preceded by a low church porch, the top of the nave is separated by a drip canopy, with “square pattern” formwork, flanked with low towers covered with cupolas (which is not typical for wooden churches). The window and door openings are rectangular. The main entrance is closed with a segmental arch. The church is fitted with contemporary single- and double-leaf panel doors. Inside, the nave and the chancel are covered with flat ceilings with interconnected structural elements. In the nave, there is a ceiling reinforced with longitudinal beams supported by a pair of pillars. The church porch is topped by a false barrel vault. The wide (newer) choir gallery is based on four pillars. A profiled rood beam with a crucifix separates the nave and the chancel. Most furnishings date to the 18th century, including the main late Baroque altar (completely renovated in the 19th century). The side altars and the pulpit represent the Rococo style.

The belfry-gate is situated at the entrance to the church cemetery. Eclectic. Made of brick, built on a rectangular floor plan, two-storey. The elevations – in analogous pairs – with rich architectural details. The elevation facing the street and the elevation facing the church are topped with decorative gables. 

The interiors can be visited during church services and upon prior arrangement.

compiled by Bożena Stanek-Lebioda, National Institute of Cultural Heritage, Branch Office in Lublin, 7 December 2016

Bibliography

• Górak J., Typy i formy drewnianej architektury sakralnej Lubelszczyzny, “Kwartalnik Architektury i Urbanistyki”, 1987, no. 3-4, pp. 240-241.
• Katalog Zabytków Sztuki w Polsce, vol. VIII: Województwo lubelskie, issue 9: Powiat kraśnicki, Warsaw 1961, pp. 4-5.
• Skarby archidiecezji lubelskiej, editing team P. Kawałko et al, Lublin 2005, pp. 63-65.
• Zabytki architektury i budownictwa w Polsce, vol. 22: Województwo lubelskie, Warsaw 1995, p. 61.