St. James the Apostle Church in Sztabin

The Church of Saint James the Apostle in Sztabin is a Roman Catholic parish church located in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, belonging to the Diocese of Ełk. Its construction began in 1905 under the initiative of Father Jakub Rółkowski, and the consecration took place on September 1, 1910, performed by Bishop Antoni Karaś. The history of the church is marked by destruction—during World War I, it was demolished due to bombing. However, thanks to the support of parishioners and the Ministry of Religious Denominations and Public Education, it was successfully rebuilt, with the renovation completed on September 27, 1929. The church also suffered damage during World War II, and after the war, renovations were carried out by parish priest Czesław Wilkowski. Architecturally, the church is masonry-built and covered with galvanized sheet metal, while its interior is adorned with polychromes, including figures of the four evangelists, and paintings depicting scenes from the life of Jesus. The church's furnishings include a neo-Gothic pulpit with carved figures, a main altar with a large crucifix, and side altars with images of Our Lady of Częstochowa and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Additionally, the church houses a 21-voice organ, a baptismal font, and pews, underscoring its cultural significance as a place of community and prayer. It is worth noting that the history and architecture of the church reflect the difficult history of the region, and its reconstruction testifies to the determination of the local community in nurturing religious traditions.