An increasing number of historic buildings in Mazovia are undergoing renovation. Unfortunately, not all of these measures take into account the guidelines of the art of conservation. However, there are projects which not only respect the original character of the monument, but even restore its former splendour. This kind of approach, however, requires a great deal of awareness, sensitivity and respect for the authentic historical fabric. An example worth following is the work carried out on the Church of St John the Baptist in Mszczonów.
Mszczonów church regains its shine
In 2025, at the request of the local parish, the Church of St John the Baptist in Mszczonów was officially entered in the register of historical monuments. Although the building has high historical and architectural value, over the years it has been subjected to numerous transformations, which have not always been in the spirit of the original design. Such interventions included the covering of the stone floor with ceramic tiles and the use of panelling. Thanks to the commitment of the parish priest, Father Adam Kostrzewa, and the positive decision of the Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, it was possible to carry out work to uncover and renovate the historic floor. The work consisted of carefully removing the secondary layer of tiles, cleaning the original surface and protecting it. Any small cracks and cavities in the stone floor were filled in and the whole thing was carefully polished. The result surprised everyone! The historic stone floor has been preserved in excellent condition and its beauty is once again an integral part of the church interior. As a result, one of Mszczonów’s most valuable monuments has regained its former sacred character.
History of the Mszczonów church
The present parish church in Mszczonów was built between 1862 and 1865 on the site of an earlier 15th century Gothic church, which had burnt down during the city fire of 1800. The construction of the new church was initiated by the then parish priest, Father Władysław Polkowski. The design of the Tuscan-style temple was drawn up by François Tournelle, a pupil of the famous architect Henri Marconi. In 1863, the body of the church was completed and a clock was installed on its tower. Unfortunately, the finishing work was interrupted by the outbreak of the January Uprising. The church was finally completed two years later. In the following decades, further work on the interior furnishings continued, including the ordering of a ciborium and antepedium from Cwajbak’s woodcarving workshop. In 1914, the wooden ceiling was decorated with a polychrome by Fr Zakrzewski, and in the inter-war period a fence around the church grounds was made. The building survived the Second World War without major damage, although the town suffered during the 1939 September campaign.
Towards authenticity
The works carried out at St John the Baptist Church in Mszczonów are an example of an exemplary approach to the conservation of monuments. They show that with the right determination, knowledge and cooperation with heritage protection institutions, it is possible not only to secure, but also to restore the historic character of an object. We hope that there will be more and more similar projects in the Mazovia region!
Source: WUOZ in Warsaw
Photo by A. Kostrzewa and WUOZ in Warsaw
