The temple, situated in the south-west part of the town, performs an important role in the urban composition of Babimost.

History

The first church in Babimost was most probably built already in the 13th century. It was mentioned in written sources in 1334. That building was a wooden structure, similarly as the later one, erected in the 17th century - the church of St Catherine, additionally including a masonry chapel. After the fire of 1730 that devastated the town, the current church of St Lawrence was erected in place of the former one. The building was erected in the years 1734-1740 from funds of Adam Poniński, Castellan of Poznan and Starost of Babimost. The Late Baroque front façade was partially redesigned in the Neo-Classicist style (in the upper, tower part after the fire of 1833). Before World War II, the parish in Babimost belonged canonically to the Prelature of Piła. Hostilities of World War II did not lead to major damage to the building. After the war the church found itself within the borders of the Apostolic Administration in Gorzów Wielkopolski. Since 1992, it has belonged to the Diocese of Zielona Góra and Gorzów Wielkopolski. The church was refurbished in 1888, 1939 and in the years 1962-1963. Currently, conservation works are taking place at the polyptych of Sulechów, created at the workshop of the Master of Gościeszowice. The church features diversified architectural details and additionally, interesting historical fixtures and fittings are found inside the building.

Description

The church of St Lawrence in Babimost is situated in the south-western part of the town, at the market square. The area around the church is fenced with a brick wall featuring an entrance gate. A wooden crucifix and a bell tower housing three bells are located on the plot in front of the church. The temple is a three-nave basilica made of brick, with its front façade facing the east and the chancel terminating in a semi-circular arch. The entrance to the church is framed by a Baroque portal with flanking pilasters. The front of the temple features two quadrangular towers crowned with multi-pitched roofs. The front façade of the church is adorned with statues, placed in tower niches: of St Adalbert and St Stanislaus. The main body is covered with a gable roof, while the chancel features a semi-circular roof. The naves are covered with mono-pitched roofs. The interior of the church is covered with barrel-and-groin vaults. The side naves are decorated with stucco, while the interior walls with Baroque pilasters. The interior of the temple is complemented by Baroque fixtures and fittings. The oldest element of the church décor is a Late-Gothic polyptych from 1499, coming from the workshop of the Master of Gościeszowice. However, it has been preserved only in fragments. That altar was created upon commission of the parish priest of Sulechów, Gabriel Ritter. It was transferred to Babimost in 1866. The remaining elements of the fixtures and fittings include, among others: three Baroque altars from the period of the construction of the temple, sculptures and paintings from the 17th and 18th century, benches, confessionals and a Baroque Revival pulpit - all crafted in 1887, plus four chasubles - two of them dating from the first quarter of the 16th century.

The church is property of a religious community. It celebrates regular masses. It is open to the public.

Krzysztof Słowiński, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Zielona Góra, 30-10-2017

Bibliography

• Garbacz K., Szlakiem zabytkowych miast. Przewodnik po południowej części województwa lubuskiego, Zielona Góra 2005, p. 48;
• Garbacz K., Przewodnik po zabytkach województwa lubuskiego, vol. I, Zielona Góra 2011, pp. 93-94;
• Kowalski S., Zabytki architektury województwa lubuskiego, Zielona Góra 2010, pp. 9-10;
• Kowalski S., Zabytki województwa zielonogórskiego, Zielona Góra 1987, pp. 27-28.
• Peryt-Gierasimczuk I., Czas architekturą zapisany. Zabytki województwa lubuskiego, Zielona Góra 1998, pp. 14-15.