History

The first church existed here already in the 14th century. Founded to commemorate the judgement in which the king Bolesław the Brave and Bishop Stanisław Szczepanowski participated. During this judgement, with the help of Piotrowin he raised from the dead, the Bishop Stanislaus proved the validity of his ownership rights to the village, which is now called Piotrowin. The currently existing church was built probably in the 18th century. Damaged during the flood that stormed this area in 1813, soon it was thoroughly reconstructed. It survived in this state until World War II, during which the west façade and a part of the vault over the nave were damaged. It has remained unused ever since. It is situated on a parcel belonging to Jan Trawczyński. Renovation works were carried out around 1978, during which the remains of the vault over the nave were removed, all walls were plastered and a new roof cover was laid over the chancel.

Description

The church, currently the chapel and practically a ruin, is located on the western edge of the town, at the road leading to Raj. The road also functions as a flood bank. The area is surrounded on three sides with fields. On the south-western side, it abuts on the holding of the current owner. The church is oriented, made of brick, covered with galvanised sheet. Erected on a rectangular floor plan, currently without a western wall, with a narrower rectangular chancel. Entrance to the chancel is located in the north. The building has a rectangular body, the nave lacks any roof cover, the chancel is covered with a gable roof. The church foundations are made of broken stone. External walls made of limestone are plastered on both sides. It has a faux, wooden vault. Windows with semicircular arches, without panes. North façade has three axes (a two-axis nave and single-axis chancel), lacks any decorations and articulations on the walls. The open west façade, damaged during World War II, has never been rebuilt. East façade also without any partitions; only a small window in the gable. South façade with a two-axis nave; the chancel without axial partitions. The building is encompassed on three sides with a slightly protruding crowning cornice. Walls of the former nave include deep, segment-headed niches in the lower part (two in the south, one in the north). The chancel opens towards the nave with an arcade that includes an iron grate. The preserved gable is articulated in frames into four fields. One of the fields includes traces of an entrance to the attic. The nave lacks the floor; the chancel includes a stone floor.

The structure is open to visitors upon arrangement with the owner.

Compiled by Katarzyna Kosior, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Warsaw, 29-10-2014.

Bibliography

• Katalog Zabytków Sztuki w Polsce, Tom III Województwo Kieleckie, zeszyt 2 powiat iłżecki, Instytut Sztuki PAN, Warszawa 1965.
• Karta ewidencyjna zabytku architektury i budownictwa tzw Karta Biała, J. Studziński, październik 1990.