Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross and the Holy Trinity in Nowe Rybie

The church in Nowe Rybie, dedicated to the Finding of the Holy Cross and the Holy Trinity, is a historic, Gothic masonry structure serving as the parish church for the local community. The history of the church dates back to an unspecified period, but it is known that the first building burned down in 1795. Reconstruction was initiated by Gabriel Grzembski, the owner of the village, and the new church was consecrated in 1867 by Bishop Alojzy Pukalski. Between 1993 and 1997, a comprehensive renovation was carried out, during which older walls were uncovered and integrated into the existing structure. In 2005, the church underwent conservation of its altars, pulpit, and baptismal font, and a new bell tower was constructed, contributing to its inclusion in the register of historical monuments of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The belfry, parish cemetery, and surrounding fence with chapels were also added to the register. It is worth noting that the church attic serves as a roosting site for a rare and protected species of bats. The interior of the church features 19th-century flat ceilings adorned with modest stuccowork, illuminated by narrow, pointed-arch windows. Gothic stone portals lead to the nave, presbytery, and sacristy. The main altar, in the Rococo style from the late 18th century, houses a Baroque sculpture of the Crucified Christ. The side altars, in a similar style, are decorated with works of sacred art. Among the valuable furnishings are a wooden baptismal font from the 16th century and an 18th-century Rococo pulpit. The church's architecture is single-naved with a narrower presbytery, originally covered with wood shingles and now with sheet metal. The side sacristy includes a porch providing access to the choir, above which rises a slender lantern-topped tower. The external walls are reinforced with sloping buttresses bearing commemorative plaques. The church surroundings are enriched by a stone wall with small chapels, a belfry with three bells, and a historic parish cemetery, underscoring the significance of this site in local culture and history. The church in Nowe Rybie is not only an important landmark on the region's historical map but also a vital element of local tradition and spirituality.