Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa in Żabnica

The Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa in Żabnica is a wooden temple built between 1910 and 1914 on the initiative of Father Jan Figuła. The chief master carpenter was Jan Kurowski, and building materials were provided by local residents and Archduke Karol Stefan Habsburg. The church was consecrated in 1914 and gained parish status in 1918. In the following years, between 1957 and 1961, it underwent expansion, adding a tower wing and other elements. The church's facade, set on a stone foundation, features a dual-pitched roof covered with sheet metal and a tower topped with an onion dome. The architecture of the temple incorporates elements of the Neo-Baroque style, which is evident in the interior decoration, including a flat ceiling. The main altar holds an image of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in metal robes, along with two side altars dedicated to St. Joseph and St. Anne, a pulpit, and an organ from 1966. The interior is adorned with wooden chandeliers from 1965, illuminating the simple plank walls. The church is part of the Wooden Architecture Trail in the Silesian Voivodeship and plays a significant role in local culture, serving as a place of prayer and community gatherings for the residents of Żabnica. In 1984, stained glass windows were installed, and the roof covering was replaced with sheet metal in 1986, reflecting a commitment to aesthetics and the preservation of building traditions. An interesting fact is that the Stations of the Cross were purchased in Wadowice, highlighting the intersecting cultural traditions of this location. The church is not only a place of worship but also an important element of the local architectural landscape, paying homage to the unique heritage of wooden architecture in the region.