St. John the Baptist Parish in Mszczonów

The Parish of St. John the Baptist in Mszczonów, belonging to the Mszczonów deanery in the Łowicz diocese, has a rich history dating back to the 11th century, when Mszczonów was part of the Czersk archdeaconry of the Poznań diocese. The first records of an existing church come from the acts of the Poznań Chapter Archives from 1324. In 1377, Mszczonów obtained town rights, which influenced the development of the parish, which at that time included the town and 26 surrounding villages. In the 14th century, on the initiative of Siemowit IV, the construction of a brick church began, which unfortunately burned down in a great fire in 1800. After this tragic event, services were held in a wooden chapel for many years. The current church, built between 1861 and 1864 in the Tuscan style according to the design of architect Franciszek Tournelle, is the result of the work of Father Władysław Polkowski, who began the construction but was exiled to Siberia, and his work was completed by Father Marian Polkowski. The church was consecrated in 1973 by Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. The history of the parish abounds with figures of well-known parish priests, such as Fr. Andrzej Mogielnicki and Fr. Józef Wierzejski, who was killed by the Germans in 1939. Today, the parish has 5,716 faithful, and its architectural heritage is an important element of local culture. It is also worth noting that the current parish priest, Fr. Dr. Adam Kostrzewa, took office in 2023, which demonstrates the continuity of tradition and the development of the parish community. Interestingly, for centuries, Mszczonów has been the site of important religious and social events that have shaped local identity.