Parish of Our Lady of Sorrows in Bałtów

The Parish of Our Lady of Sorrows in Bałtów, one of the ten Roman Catholic parishes of the Sienno deanery in the Radom diocese, boasts a rich history dating back to before 1326, when the first wooden church was mentioned. This church burned down in 1645. In its place, the current church, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, was built, with its oldest part dating from the end of the 17th century. The church was consecrated on October 21, 1743, by Bishop Michał Ignacy Kunicki. Between 1904 and 1909, thanks to the efforts of Father Ludwik Olsiński, the church underwent significant expansion and restoration according to the design of architects Zygmunt Hendel and Konstanty Wojciechowski. The work was completed by 1919, and the consecration took place on May 11, 1920, performed by Bishop Paweł Kubicki. The church features Baroque architecture, is built on a Latin cross plan, is oriented, single-naved, and has two bays with a transept, giving it a unique character. The parish includes believers from many surrounding towns, such as Bałtów, Jelenia Góra, and Wólka Bałtowska, which attests to its importance in the region. Interestingly, a palace chapel now stands on the site of the burned church, indicating the continuity of religious worship in this location over the centuries. It is worth noting that the history of the parish is not only the history of a religious building but also a reflection of the local community and their religious traditions, which are intertwined with the history of the region.