The Church of Jesus Christ the Redeemer in Czechowice-Dziedzice is an exceptional example of contemporary sacred architecture, designed by the outstanding architect Stanisław Niemczyk. Built between 1995 and 1999, the building is an important cultural and artistic element of the region, which has won critical acclaim and numerous awards for its originality.
The decision to build a new church was taken in the early 1990s, when the existing parish building, housed in a former carpenter’s shop from 1929, proved too small for the growing community of believers. In 1995, construction work began, which had to take into account the space limitations of the plot. The first Mass was celebrated as early as 1996, and the completed church was consecrated on 29 October 2000.
D T G, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The architecture of the church is unique and strongly symbolic. The temple is designed on a triangular plan, which alludes to the Holy Trinity. Three towers of different heights give the building a distinctive appearance – the two higher ones symbolise the past two millennia of Christianity, while the lower one, which is the entrance tower, refers to the third millennium. The tower is also known as the Papal Tower, as the inspiration for the shape of its helmet came from the tiara worn by popes. Its top is additionally adorned with the famous cross from John Paul II’s pastoral crozier.
The building was erected using bricks from the brickworks in neighbouring Bestwin. They were laid according to a precise pattern, and burnt, irregular blocks were also used for decoration, adding a unique texture to the walls. Rough concrete elements such as foundations, lintels and ceiling beams were left visible, giving the structure additional character. Figures have been placed in the church garden and the Stations of the Cross have been placed.
The interior of the Church of St. George in Chekhov. Jesus Christ the Redeemer Church in Czechowice-Dziedzice is devoid of divisions. The dominant material is brick, supplemented by concrete elements and a wooden ceiling with a central skylight. Along the side walls there is a spacious choir with a brick balustrade. The woodwork, designed by Stanislaw Niemczyk, is stained green or red.
The church furnishings include a stone altar, a 17th-century baptistery and an organ imported from Germany. Polychromies by Anna Niemczyk-Wojtecka, the architect’s daughter, in a style reminiscent of Byzantine painting decorate, among others, the presbytery and the Stations of the Cross. The centrepiece of the interior is a copy of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa and a crucifix from the former chapel. The intimacy of the interior is combined with a warm atmosphere, and carefully selected details create the unique character of the space.
Stanislaw Niemczyk’s work has received numerous awards. In 1998, the church received an honorary award from the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodship and the Katowice branch of the Association of Polish Architects for the best public space. The following year, it won the Grand Prix in the “Architecture of the Year 1999” competition. In 2005, the church was included in the prestigious list of “Poland. Icons of Architecture”.
The church in Czechowice-Dziedzice is not only a place of worship, but also a symbol of contemporary sacred art, appreciated by worshippers and architects alike. Its design is a testimony to the harmony between Christian tradition and modern architectural solutions.
Source: drugaminoga.blogspot.com, odkupiciel.katolik.bielsko.pl
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Sacral architecture | Art | Architecture of the Polish People’s Republic | Modernism
