St. Augustine's Church in Lipiny

The Church of St. Augustine in Lipiny, built between 1871 and 1872, is the oldest church in Świętochłowice and is listed in the register of historical monuments. Designed in the Neo-Gothic style, it takes the form of a three-aisled, pseudo-hall structure on a Latin cross plan, featuring a two-bay transept, a presbytery, sacristies, and chapels. Additionally, the church is flanked on the western side by a square tower, and the entire brick structure now has a dark gray color. A distinctive feature is the main portal in the tower, which stands out with its colorful sculptures of St. Florian and St. John of Nepomuk. The interior is adorned with stained glass windows, some of which were designed by Adam Bunsch, and rib vault ceilings. Next to the church is a cemetery with graves of Silesian insurgents. The church was also a place where the cultural and social life of the parish flourished, and in its history, the Borromean Sisters played an important role by providing aid to the sick during epidemics. The history of the church's construction is linked to the needs of the residents of Lipiny, who for a long time belonged to distant parishes, making it difficult for them to attend Mass. In 1869, the decision was made to build their own church, initiated primarily by the then parish priest, Father Edward Deloch. The construction was funded mainly by the Hutnicza Spółka Bracka (Mining and Metallurgical Brotherhood Company) and the Śląska Spółka Akcyjna dla Górnictwa i Hut Cynkowych (Silesian Joint Stock Company for Mining and Zinc Smelting). Originally, the church had different dimensions and lacked many of the current architectural elements, which were added in later years. The church was consecrated on July 24, 1872, and St. Augustine was chosen as its patron. Although the architect remains unknown, documents stored in the tower attest to the unwavering commitment of August Schmieder to the project's realization. The building became not only a place of worship but also an important focal point in the life of the local community, and its history is closely tied to the development of Lipiny as an industrial settlement.