The church is located on the Wooden Architecture Route of Małopolska.

History

The church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was built in 1913 according to a design by Jan Tarczałowicz. The construction was associated with the establishment of the parish which was incorporated in 1913 by bishop Leon Wałęga to the parish of Dobra. The parish was officially established in 1925. The church was renovated and modernised many times, among other things in 1953, 1956, 1966, and 1980. In 1980, in the place of a destroyed one, new tower was built, similar in style to the church. In the years 2007-2012, a full-scale renovation took place (renovation of foundation, drainage works, lightning installation). The worn wooden façade was replaced, as well as the roof and the steeple turret (eternit was replaced with copper sheet). The first priests' house built was built concurrently with the church in 1913. In 1929, the construction of a new priests’ house was commenced. The priests' house was used until 1980s; the construction of the next one was completed in 1990.

Description

The church is a three-nave basilica with a transept, with narrow side naves and barrel vaulting in the main nave. The structure of the church is of log and post type. It is covered with weatherboards from outside, and decorated with wall painting. The ornamental and figural painted decorations are reminiscent of the eastern art. They were made in 1966 by outstanding artists: Teresa Stankiewicz and Witold Domasiewicza. The most interesting elements of the decoration include: Creation of the World - on the vault of the main nave, Christ Pantocrator, Stations of the Cross, and mysteries of the holy rosary. The roof of the church are of saddle and shed type, and has a steeple turret with an octagonal lantern. The church features a tower made of natural stone. The main altar originates from 1920 and incorporates a painting of the patron of thee church. It is neo-Romanesque in style. It was made by Franciszek Adamek. Also the side altarpieces from 1932 are neo-Romanesque in style. In the right nave, there is an altar with a copy of a painting of Transfigured Christ (the original painting is stored in the church in Dobra). According to a legend, the painting was brought by Wallachian shepherds. On the square in front of the church, there is a stone belfry, stylised to look as a regional one, built in 1970. Three bells, made in 1935-1959, hang inside.

The monument is open to visitors. Weekdays, services: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 6:30, Wednesday, Saturday: 17:00. Sundays and holidays: 8:00, 11:00, 16:00.

compiled by Roman Marcinek, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Krakow, 20-03-2015.

Bibliography

• G. Ruszczyk, Drewniane kościoły w Polsce 1918-1939, Warszawa 2001
• [M. Kornecki], Kościoły Diecezji Tarnowskiej [w:] Rocznik Diecezji Tarnowskiej, Tarnów 1972
• Słownik Hist.-Geogr. Małopolski w średniowieczu, cz. II, z. 2, Ossolineum 1989
• P. Skoczek: Parafie Ziemi Limanowskiej. Proszówki 2009