Inside, there is a gravestone of Hieronim Ossoliński (died 1576), an alleged work of Santi Gucci — the leading architect and sculptor working in the first Republic of Poland in the 4th quarter of the 16th century.

History

The first stone church in Goźlice, preserved in its structure to present times, was probably built in the 2nd quarter of the 13th century. It was then a single-space building with a separated presbytery ended with a straight section, and a western edifice with a gallery. In years 1241 and 1259, the building was destroyed by Tatars. The first recorded mention of the local parish dates back to 1326. The presbytery was extended in ca. mid-15th century. Around years 1559-76, the church remained in hands of Calvinists.  Ca. in 1620-36, under the supervision of the then parish priest Maciej Glancerinus, the church was converted (among other things, two chapels were built, a sacristy, and the western tower was removed). Also, new fittings were founded by him. The church was consecrated in 1636. Before mid-19th century, a porch was added to the church. In 1879, the building was renovated. In the early 20th century, Romanesque stonework was discovered near the building, including a sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Child (currently in the Diocesan Museum in Sandomierz). In 1915, it was seriously damaged. Until 1923, the church was restored and Romanesque walls were uncovered. In 1945, the roof of the building and its fittings went up with flames. In 1946-48, renovation works and architectural studies were carried out in the building, as a result of which further fragments of Romanesque walls were discovered. In years 2006-12, conservation and restoration works were carried out in the church (inter alia, the annex at the southern wall of the presbytery was dismantled and the slab picturing Hieronim Ossoliński underwent maintenance).

Description

The church is located on a hill, in the centre of the village. It occupies the central part of an oval square closed from the east with a straight line, surrounded by stone walls and old-growth trees. The church is oriented, it is a single-nave structure on a plan of a cross. It is comprised of a Romanesque nave with buttresses from the east, and a narrower and lower Gothic presbytery, with a three-side ending section featuring buttresses in the corners. The presbytery is adjoined from the north by a low, rectangular sacristy with a vestibule (in the sacristy, there is a corner buttress of the nave). By the nave, there are: from the west, a square porch; and from the north and south, rectangular buttressed chapels. The church was made of stone ashlars and brick and its Romanesque sections are not plastered. It is covered by a gable roof (over the nave), a five-faced roof (over the presbytery), and a tented roof with a lantern (over the chapels). The stone façades of the building, pierced with windows and divided by buttresses, are plain (the Romanesque sections feature remains of vertical partitions of walls and windows). Only the western façade stands out in terms of decoration — it features pilasters in the corners and a triangular gable framed by volutes. The main entrance is accentuated by a stone portal from approx. 1636. The eastern façade of the sacristy features a relief of a shield with the Świnka coat of arms. The interior of the church is covered by a wooden ceiling (over the nave), and cross-rib vaulting (in the presbytery with keystones featuring the Topór coat of arms), barrel vaulting (in chapels and sacristy), and double barrel vaulting (in the porch). In the nave, Romanesque walls and windows are exposed, as well as remains of a pilaster, vaults and stairs leading to the gallery. The stairs are located in the north-western part of the gallery. The entrance from the presbytery to the sacristy is emphasised by a Baroque stone portal with a certification inscription, and a sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the end section. Modest fittings of the church include, among other things: main altar of 1871 (with a painting of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Wojciech Gerson), a Mannerist altar originating from ca. 1632 (in the northern chapel), and a gravestone of Hieronim Ossoliński (died 1576), probably made by Santi Gucci (in the southern chapel).

The historic building is accessible to visitors. It may be visited upon prior telephone appointment.

Compiled by Łukasz Piotr Młynarski, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Kielce, 01.10.2014.

Bibliography 

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