It has retained its original architectural and spatial layout and still has the original fittings from the late 17th and early 18th century.

History

The first church in the village was built in the 11th-12th century; it is mentioned in documents dating from 1243 as a church in a castellan’s gord which was fitted out by Duke Przemysł I. The present church was built by the parish-priest Józef Koniewski in 1749 (on the same site). In 1793, Anna Ciecierski née Malechowski financed the restoration of the church. In 1895, the church tower was dismantled and the entire west wall was replaced with a brick wall. A founder’s loge was constructed in the northern part of the nave in 1927. The church was renovated in 1900 and 1927; full-scale renovations were carried out in the years 1959-63.

Description

The village of Żoń, formerly the seat of a castellan, is located 14 km to the north of Wągrowiec, surrounded by three lakes: Oporzyńskie, Zbyszewskie, and Żońskie. Żoń was mentioned in written records for the first time in 1232. The village had municipal rights at the beginning of the 15th century. The Church of St Martin is situated by Żońskie Lake, on a tall hillock. It is enclosed with a stone wall with two brick gates. The church is surrounded by a historic graveyard established in the 13th century. It contains a number of old graves, protected by a separate entry into the register of monuments (A-567 of 21.02.1989 — Voivodeship Monument Inspector in Piła).

The Church of St Martin is oriented towards the east. It has one nave (with no aisles). The chancel, narrower than the nave, terminates in a polygon. It is adjoined by a brick sacristy on the south side. The founder’s loge, added in 1927, is located on the northern side. The nave is adjoined by two brick chapels (originally made of wooden logs) on the north and south sides. The chapels form a type of transept.

The church has a timber frame structure with brick infill. The brick front façade dates from the early 20th century. The nave and the chancel have dual-pitched roofs; the sacristy and the loge have mono-pitched roofs. Ale roofs are covered with roof tiles.

The ceiling is adorned with paintings. The main altar, incorporating a painting of Mary with Baby Jesus, comes from the 18th century. The altar is flanked by Baroque sculptures of Saints Stanislaus and Adalbert. The side altars are dedicated to St Martin (17th century) and St John of Nepomuk (early 19th century). The pulpit and the baptismal font date from the 18th century.

The church may be visited from the outside and — by prior arrangement — also inside. More information is available on the website of the diocese.

compiled by Radomiła Banach, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Poznan, 03-09-2015.

Bibliography

• Drewniane kościoły w Wielkopolsce, koncepcja, teksty i wybór fotografii P. Maluśkiewicz, Poznań 2004, s. 42.
• Jankowski A., Kościoły drewniane o zdwojonej konstrukcji ścian w Wielkopolsce, Bydgoszcz 2009, s. 219-23.
• Katalog zabytków sztuki w Polsce, t. V, z. 1: powiat chodzieski, Warszawa 1965, s. 4-5.