St. James the Apostle Church in Ośno Lubuskie

The Church of St. James the Apostle in Ośno Lubuskie is a Roman Catholic parish church, located in the Słubice County of the Lubusz Voivodeship. It belongs to the Rzepin Deanery in the Diocese of Zielona Góra-Gorzów. The history of the church dates back to the years 1298–1380, when this Gothic structure was erected. In the following centuries, particularly in the second half of the 15th and the first half of the 16th century, as well as in 1834, the church underwent renovations and expansions. A pivotal moment in its history was the year 1538, when the church fell into Protestant hands, and its tower was destroyed by a lightning strike. Tragic events occurred in 1596, when the entire town of Ośno Lubuskie burned down in a great fire, which destroyed the church and its furnishings. At the beginning of the 17th century, renovation work began, during which the tower was rebuilt and new elements were added to the interior decor. After World War II, in 1945, the church was taken over by Catholics, and its consecration took place on December 8, 1963. Architecturally, the church is a three-nave structure with a distinct chancel, a massive tower on the western side, and an additional sacristy and porch on the southern side. The interior of the church features rich furnishings, including a wooden late Renaissance altar from 1627, a pulpit from 1619, and a stone baptismal font from 1667. It is worth noting that the church houses an organ made by the Sauer company in 1876, along with a neo-Gothic organ case from the same period. An interesting fact is that the church contains a Baroque painting of the Crucifixion from 1668, as well as several inscribed plaques documenting the reconstruction of the church in 1608 and renovations in 1734. The church in Ośno Lubuskie is not only an important place of religious worship but also a significant landmark in the history of the local community, bearing witness to many dramatic events that have taken place over the centuries.