St. Lawrence Church in Rybnik

The Church of St. Lawrence in Rybnik, located in the Ligota - Ligocka Kuźnia district, is a historic Roman Catholic parish church belonging to the Rybnik deanery of the Katowice Archdiocese. Built in 1717 by carpenter Jakub Siedlaczek in Boguszowice, it is a wooden structure with a log construction in the shape of a Greek cross. In 1830, a front tower with a post structure was added, and its gable roof was covered with wood shingles. The church, oriented and clad with wooden boards, was moved to its current location in 1975 and is distinguished by its high foundation. The interior of the church features Baroque furnishings, including a valuable 1685 painting by Michael Willmann depicting the martyrdom of St. Lawrence, which was transferred from the Cistercian church in Rudy in 1810. The side altars are adorned with Baroque paintings, such as the Crucifixion with the Virgin Mary and a late Renaissance image of the Virgin Mary with Child. The church is also known for its movable Nativity scene, displayed during the Christmas season. Between 1991 and 1994, the parish won first place in the municipal competition "For a More Beautiful Rybnik" in the category of best-maintained surroundings of public utility buildings. In 1997, a stylish wooden gate was added to the church, and a garden with a rich collection of ornamental shrubs and perennials was created around the temple. The current parish priest is Father Jarosław Paszkot. The Church of St. Lawrence is an important element of local culture and history, as well as an attractive point on the Wooden Architecture Trail of the Silesian Voivodeship.