St. Anne's Church in Gołkowice

St. Anne's Church in Gołkowice is a historic wooden filial church of the Roman Catholic rite, located on the Wooden Architecture Trail in the Silesian Voivodeship. Its structure is oriented and built on a post-and-beam framework, with the entire building resting on concrete foundations. The church is distinguished by its square tower with sloping walls, topped by an eight-sided pyramidal spire. The chancel is slightly lower than the nave, and its ridge is adorned with an octagonal turret featuring an open lantern. The interior of the church is richly decorated, with the main altar housing a painting of St. Anne teaching Mary, flanked by statues of St. Peter and St. Paul. The side altars are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The most valuable artwork in the church is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus, dating back to the early 16th century. Bas-reliefs depicting the Church Fathers, such as St. Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory, adorn the pulpit basket and originate from the 18th century, likely part of an earlier pulpit from 1711. The history of the church dates back to when it replaced an earlier structure that was in poor technical condition. In 1873, the tower was acquired from the Gothic church in Pruchnej, and construction of the new building began in 1877, concluding in 1878. The church underwent several renovations in 1953, 2006, and 2010, reflecting its significance and the efforts to preserve it. St. Anne's Church is not only a place of worship but also an important testament to the local history and architectural traditions of the region.