Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Rybnik

The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Rybnik, commonly known as the Old Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church in the Silesian Voivodeship, belonging to the Archdiocese of Katowice. Located at Church Square on Franciszka Rybnickiego Street 2, it served as the most important church in Rybnik until the construction of the new Church of St. Anthony in the early 20th century. The history of the church dates back to the 1790s, when construction began in 1794 under the direction of architect Franciszek Ilgner. In 1796, the neighboring Chapel of St. John was demolished to make way for the new building. The main masonry work was carried out between 1797 and 1799, and on November 15, 1801, the church was consecrated by Abbot Bernard Galbierz. Funding for the construction came primarily from King Frederick William III of Prussia and Count Antoni Węgierski. It is worth noting that Father Franciszek Blachnicki, a prominent figure in the Polish Church, was baptized in this church. The architecture of the temple is Baroque-Classicist in style, featuring a single nave and a tower with a domed spire above the entrance. The church's furnishings are modest but include valuable elements, such as late Gothic sculptures from a former triptych, as well as altars dating back to 1800. The church underwent several years of renovations, the most recent of which took place between 1995 and 1996. In 1962, new organs were built, replacing the previous 18-voice instruments by Dürschlag. The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows is a significant part of Rybnik's cultural heritage, and its history and architecture attract both locals and tourists alike.