St. James Church in Racibórz

The Church of St. James in Racibórz, the only remaining structure of the former Dominican monastery, traces its origins to 1258, when the order was established there. The consecration of the church most likely took place in the same year. The building, which has undergone numerous transformations, acquired its current appearance through reconstructions in the early 15th century and between 1637 and 1655, following fires that damaged the church. An interesting chapter in its history is related to the dissolution of the monastery in 1810, when, thanks to the efforts of the clergy, Polish-language services were preserved until 1938. After wartime destruction in 1945, the church served as the parish church until the reconstruction of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was completed. Architecturally, the church is an example of the Gothic style, featuring a single wide nave and a multi-bay chancel. The western façade, designed in the Neo-Romanesque style, along with Gothic details restored by the Racibórz architect Stracke, distinguishes the building. In the vestibule, there is a marble cross from 1874 and a monument of St. John Nepomucene from 1720. The most valuable interior element is the tomb chapel of the Counts von Gaschin, adorned with beautiful stucco decorations and an altar made of black marble depicting the Crucifixion group. The altar in the Chapel of the Holy Rosary, founded in 1659, is likely the work of Salomon Steinhof and is decorated with numerous paintings and sculptures. Interestingly, the original main altar dedicated to St. James was destroyed by fire in 1945, and the current one is designed in a pseudo-Gothic style. As a place of worship, the church remains an integral part of the local culture and history of Racibórz.