History

According to a note found in the globe of the tower’s tented roof, the church was founded in 1298. In 1350, the main altarpiece was donated, therefore the church was already operating at that time. At the turn of the 15th and 16th century, it was extended. The chancel was extended and the tower was added in that period, and thereafter - in the first half of the 16th century, a chapel was erected. In 1538, as a result of a lightning strike, the tower was damaged. In the same year, the church was taken over by Protestants and it remained in their hands until 1945. In 1596, the church was destroyed by a fire which affected nearly the entire town. In the early 17th century, it was reconstructed without any modifications to its architectural form. In 1823, the cross-rib vaulting over the main nave collapsed and was replaced with a barrel vault. During the 1870s, the Gothic characteristics of the church were restored - Baroque elements of its fittings were removed. In the 20th century, the building underwent renovation (1960s), and its interior was refreshed (1988-1992).

Description

The church is located in the heart of the old town district, on a small hill. From the east, it neighbours the town hall building. The church is an example of late-Gothic architecture. It is oriented. It is made of brick, with the ground floor section partially made of granite. It has three-naves and a pseudo-hall layout, with a chancel terminating in a polygon, sacristy from the north, chapel from the south, and tower from the west. The buttressed body of the church is covered with a gable roof, stepped over the chancel. The quadrangular, massive tower is topped with a hip roof with a decorative tented roof above. The brick façades are partitioned with regularly arranged buttresses and high pointed-arch windows. Portals are also of a pointed-arch type, with plain decoration of reveals. In the section of the tower and southern chapel, façades are articulated with blind windows and single windows. Façades of the chancel are topped with a brick frieze with an openwork quatrefoil motif. The main nave is covered with a barrel vault, and other sections with stellar and net vaults. The most valuable fittings of the church include historical Mannerist items: main altarpiece, pulpit, and baptismal font.

The site is open to the public. It can be visited by prior telephone arrangement.

compiled by Marta Kłaczkowska, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Zielona Góra, 19-11-2014.

Bibliography

• Jarzewicz J., Gotycka architektura Nowej Marchii, Poznań 2000, s.118-125.
• Kowalski S., Zabytki architektury województwa lubuskiego, Zielona Góra 2010, s. 23-276-277.
• Garbacz K., Przewodnik po zabytkach województwa lubuskiego, Tom III, Zielona Góra 2013, s. 121.