St. Michael the Archangel's Church in Żernica

The Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Żernica is a renowned Roman Catholic wooden temple located in the Silesian Voivodeship. It belongs to the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel and is part of the Wooden Architecture Trail, situated near the red bicycle route number 6. Its history dates back to the 13th century when the village was established in 1246, and from 1283, it came under the ownership of the Cistercians from Rudy. The church was first mentioned as a parish church in 1376 and 1447, with an earlier temple having been destroyed by the Hussites around 1425–1430. The current structure was built in 1661 on the initiative of the abbot of Rudy, Andreas Emanuel Pospel. The bell tower, dated to 1518, may have an earlier origin and was originally freestanding. The church has undergone numerous renovations, including in the 19th and 20th centuries, with a comprehensive restoration taking place between 1998 and 2008, restoring its former glory and allowing for the conservation of its polychromes. The architectural style of the church is wooden, built using log construction, with a shingle-covered roof. The interior features a Baroque main altar from 1648 and side altars, including one with an image of the Virgin Mary with Child from 1899. The church also contains polychromes depicting saints and biblical scenes, which have been conserved. Notably, the church is surrounded by remnants of a 19th-century park and is situated on a hill at an altitude of 241 meters above sea level, highlighting its historical significance as a former cemetery site. An interesting fact is that its interior also preserves unique elements, such as busts of St. Barbara and St. Dorothy from 1500, as well as 17th-century plank doors. Despite the construction of a new church in 1970, St. Michael the Archangel continues to serve a cultural role, hosting regular services and offering opportunities for visitation.