From the 16th century to 1945 the temple belonged to the Evangelical Church. The feature is located in the central part of the village and represents one of the oldest heritage sites of the Sulęcin District.

History of the structure

The church, erected in the second half of the 14th century, follows the principles of the Gothic style. In the 15th century the feature was extended by a chancel and a sacristy. From 1612 a wooden tower stood at the church. In 1882 it was replaced with the present, brick tower. In the 19th century a porch was added to the north part of the nave. Hostilities of World War II did not lead to major damage to the building. In 1945, after the end of World War II, the former Evangelical temple in Lubniewice was taken over by the Catholics. In 1964 a link was built between the free-standing tower and the main body of the church. In the years 1970-1971 vaults were installed in place of the barrel ceiling in the main nave and the chancel. The temple is characterised by Gothic architectural details, a diversified body and regular proportions.

Site description

The parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lubniewice, situated between two main streets, stands on a small elevation.  The square around the church is circumscribed by a stone wall with a gate. The plot is overgrown with trees and shrubs and there is a wooden crucifix in front of the church. The temple is a brick building designed on a three-nave basilica floor plan, with a separate chancel featuring a polygonal termination. A sacristy adjoins the church at the north end, while a brick tower adjoins it at the west end. The church is covered with a multi-hipped roof, while the tower with a slender conical cupola. The ground floor features a stone plinth. The main entrance to the temple is located on the tower’s ground floor. The façades are pierced by Gothic, pointed arch windows. The interior of the church is covered with ribbed groin vaults resting on two rows of octagonal pillars. The side naves feature original vaults from the 15th century. The church fixtures and fittings include: a Baroque altar from the late 17th century, a pulpit, a baptismal font, Gothic sculptures of St Catherine and St Barbara as well as a bell from 1646 hanging in the tower.

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

Author of the note: Krzysztof Słowiński, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Zielona Góra, 06-11-2017

Bibliography

• Garbacz K., Przewodnik po zabytkach województwa lubuskiego, vol. III, Zielona Góra 2013, p. 186-187;
• Kowalski S., Zabytki architektury województwa lubuskiego, Zielona Góra 2010, p. 201-202;