St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist Parish

The Parish of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist and St. Roch the Confessor in Nowa Sobótka is a Mariavitе parish forming part of the Silesian-Łódź Diocese of the Old Catholic Mariavitе Church in Poland. Its history dates back to 1906, when parish priest Jan Maria Michał Kowalski, together with a group of faithful, decided to establish a parish in Nowa Sobótka. The parish church, built in the Neo-Gothic style on an elongated rectangular plan, was constructed in 1907 thanks to the generosity of the faithful and has been entered into the Register of Immovable Monuments. The religious complex also includes a rectory, which once served as a monastery for Mariavitе sisters, and a burial cemetery with tombstones of distinguished parishioners. The church's architecture is characterized by exposed brickwork, pointed-arch windows, and unique furnishings, including an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The parish community, numbering about 100 people, engages in various forms of ecumenical cooperation, organizing annual ecumenical services and cultural events such as concerts and exhibitions. It also has its own brass band, making it unique nationwide as the smallest parish with such an ensemble. Throughout its history, the parish has faced numerous challenges, including a decline in membership during the interwar period and damage during World War II and severe storms. Despite these difficulties, the parish has remained a significant center of worship and social activity, with educational and charitable traditions upheld by the active involvement of children and youth. Today, the parish focuses on documenting the multicultural heritage of the region and cooperating with local institutions.