St. John the Baptist Parish in Stromiec

The Roman Catholic Parish of St. John the Baptist in Stromiec, located in the Jedlińsk deanery of the Radom diocese, boasts a rich history dating back to medieval times. Stromiec, an ancient forest settlement and the capital of the Stromiec Wilderness, was royal property until 1359, when Casimir the Great granted it to Duke Ziemowit III. In 1381, it came under the rule of Duke Janusz I the Elder. The first wooden church in Stromiec was built in 1242, suggesting that the parish may have been established around that time. Another wooden church, constructed by Janusz I, stood until 1656, when it was destroyed. A third church, made of pine wood, was built around 1690 through the initiative of Father Andrzej Babecki and with the support of the nobility and soldiers. The current church, designed by architect Rudolf Meyer, was erected between 1900 and 1905, and its consecration took place on September 17, 1905. This neo-Gothic hall church, with a cruciform plan, is built of brick and stands as a significant architectural landmark in the region. In 1922, it was consecrated by Bishop Marian Ryx. The parish includes numerous localities such as Bobrek, Grabowy Las, Niedabyl, Nowa Wieś, and many others, making it a central hub for the local community. The church and its history bear witness to the spiritual and cultural development of the region, as well as the historical upheavals that have unfolded over the centuries. An interesting fact is that Dionizy Czachowski was baptized in the Stromiec church, underscoring the parish’s importance in local history.